Sunderland close in on former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka
Switzerland international Xhaka, who began his career at Basel before heading for Borussia Monchengladbach, spent seven years with the Gunners and is well acquainted with England's top flight.
He joined Arsenal in a £35million switch from Monchengladbach during the summer of 2016 and made 297 appearances for the club, winning two FA Cups, before returning to Germany with Leverkusen in July 2023.
Xhaka, who has been caped 137 times by his country, won the league title at the end of his first season and made 49 appearances in all competitions, 10 of them in the Champions League, during the last campaign.
A combative player, Xhaka was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in November 2019 after a heated exchange with home fans at the Emirates Stadium.
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Scottish Sun
12 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘There's big decisions to be made' – Eddie Howe breaks his silence on Alexander Isak telling Newcastle he wants to leave
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EDDIE HOWE admits Newcastle need to 'make a decision' on the future of Alexander Isak. But the Toon boss has insisted that any negotiation for their £150m-rated star striker must be in the best interests of the club. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Eddie Howe knows losing his top striker will be a big blow Credit: Rex 5 Isak wants out from Newcastle and has made it clear he wants to leave Credit: PA 5 The Swedish striker will not be short on suitors with Liverpool and Al-Hilal leading the way Credit: PA Isak, 25, is understood to have told the Newcastle hierarchy that he wants to leave this summer and will not sign an extension on his current deal that expires in 2028. Having not travelled on the club's Asia pre-season tour with a reported thigh strain, Liverpool are said to be preparing a world-record bid to lure Isak to Anfield. Sunsport understands that Saudi side Al-Hilal have offered him a £32million-a-year deal — but his heart is set on Liverpool. Quizzed on Isak's future hours after landing in Singapore, Howe said: 'There's always big decisions to make when you're at Newcastle. That goes with the territory. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL NOU START Marcus Rashford back with ex-fiancee Lucia Loi as she joins him in Barcelona 'I wouldn't put a timescale on it. With these situations, it has to be right for the football club. 'Obviously, everything is taken into context below that, but the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has. 'Ultimately, to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it's up to us to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can. 'That's what we're trying to do, regardless of Alex's situation. Of course, we want stability and we want the group to have a really good feeling. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'We are in a very strong position financially. We are determined to be successful. 'We are ambitious. We've got a great season ahead of us. We need to add to the squad and continue to improve. 'And if the journey can continue to an upward trajectory, I think that's what we all want. So that's what we're battling to try and achieve.' Newcastle plotting Benjamin Sesko bid to replace Alexander Isak Liverpool have recently signed Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for £79m, but are still open to breaking the bank for Isak – who has also been monitored by Arsenal. Isak pulled out of Newcastle's 4-0 friendly defeat to Celtic last weekend through injury, which coincided with rumours of his departure ramping up. Howe continued: 'I have to say, the feeling during pre-season has been as good as any other. "I don't think we're distracted. We're here, we're focused and we're working hard. 'Of course there are things going on behind the scenes. [Isak] will be aware, he's in the news every day and I'm sure that's not easy for anyone in that situation. 5 Isak signed for Newcastle in 2022 for a club record fee of £63million 5 He scored 23 league goals last season as they qualified for Champions League football Credit: The Times 'I'm not actually having daily contact with anyone connected with the board, we're out here, it's been a whirlwind here in the sense of training and the intensity of what we're doing. 'So, that's for other people to deal with back home. I've got 30 players here that I need to look out for and to prepare the team as best we can. 'We do share a really good relationship with him. He's been magnificent for us since he's joined. He's very popular in the dressing room. 'We'd love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. Hopefully he'll be back playing the black and white shirt, that's what we all want to see.' On whether Isak is close to signing a new deal at St James' Park, Howe added: 'As far as I am aware, I don't think there are any contract talks taking place at the moment. 'That would be for a later date potentially. With the situation as it is, there's still so much that could happen. 'I said against Celtic after the game, I certainly hope he stays. I said I was confident that he'd stay. "I don't see anything that's going to change that opinion of mine at the moment. 'But it's football, and who knows what the future may bring.'
Daily Mirror
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Viktor Gyokeres' message to Arsenal star speaks volumes as £63.8million deal nears completion
Viktor Gyokeres claimed in November that Gabriel Magalhaes stole his trademark goal celebration, as the Sporting CP star nears completing a mega-money move to the Premier League with Arsenal Viktor Gyokeres showed just how laid-back and light-hearted he can be when he claimed that Gabriel Magalhaes stole his celebration last year. Arsenal ran out 5-1 winners over Sporting CP during a Champions League clash in November, with Gabriel finding the back of the net in stoppage time as the first half drew to a close. Declan Rice whipped the ball into the box from a corner as Gabriel met it in the air with ferocity to nod home, before wheeling away in celebration and covering his face with his interlocked hands. While Gyokeres is known for a similar celebration, in which he covers his mouth with his hands, Gabriel opted to cover his own eyes, seemingly nodding to the star striker's signature commemoration with a twist. However, Gyokeres didn't seem to be too phased by Gabriel's showmanship after the fixture, telling ViaPlay:"Gabriel's celebration? He's welcome to steal it if he can't create his own celebration! I didn't know he did that, but it's fun he likes my celebration." As per reports, Gabriel opted for the celebration as payback for Pedro Goncalves mimicking Granit Xhaka's patented move of choice during a Europa League penalty shootout between Arsenal and Sporting back in 2023. However, there is no actual confirmation from Gabriel as to whether this was the case. Gyokeres's lack of a reaction to the celebration shows just how down-to-earth and easy-going he can be, despite recent criticism for pushing for a move to Arsenal this summer. For context, he refused to turn up for pre-season training with the Leoes while promising never to play for his current club again. With 39 goals and eight assists contributing to Sporting's Liga Portugal title last season, the 27-year-old Striker has become a top target among Premier League clubs as of recent. The Swede initially found himself wanted by both Manchester United and Arsenal as the summer window opened, but was quick to give favour to the Gunners, who are in dire need of an out-and-out No. 9 at present. Mikel Arteta was forced to deploy makeshift tactics for large parts of 2024/25 after Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz were sidelined through injury, with midfielder Mikel Merino even enjoying a cameo up top. Determined not to suffer a repeat situation of being left without a striker in 2025/26, Arsenal have found themselves heavily linked with securing Gyokeres' services over the past few weeks. And it appears as though the Gunners are now on the verge of finally sealing a deal with Sporting over their talisman, with reports suggesting that the two clubs have agreed a £63.8million move. It is said that Arsenal will pay an initial £55.1m as a guaranteed fee, as well as £8.7m in add-ons for Gyokeres, who is expected to complete a medical in north London. If successful, Gyokeres is expected to fly out to join the Gunners on their pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong. Arsenal kicked off their pre-season preparations with a 1-0 win over AC Milan at Singapore National Stadium on Wednesday, starman Bukayo Saka making the difference in the 53rd minute. Arteta's squad will now gear up for a thrilling encounter with Newcastle United, who have travelled without Alexander Isak amid speculation linking him with a move to Liverpool, at the same ground on Sunday. The north London side will then travel to the Kai Tak Sports Park to face Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, before returning to the Emirates Stadium to take on Villarreal on August 6. Arsenal will then take on Athletic Club three days later in the final of the Emirates Cup, before turning their attention to Manchester United on August 17 as they kickstart their 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
Leader Live
42 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Michelle Agyemang heading for the big time after Euro 2025 heroics
Agyemang is undeniably the breakout star of the defending champions' European campaign where, from their luxury accommodations perched high above Zurich, it is relatively simple for the youngest Lioness on Sarina Wiegman's squad to block out the escalating buzz around her. But as soon as they leave Switzerland – be it with a trophy after Sunday's final with Spain or not – the 19-year-old Arsenal forward, who twice saved the Lionesses from elimination in this tournament, has unequivocally arrived. 'Michelle, it's mad, like I would think she's about 30 years old, she's so mature,' said Toone of catalyst Agyemang, who netted equalisers in England's stunning quarter- and semi-final comebacks. 'She's so humble, she's coming to this tournament with freedom, you know, not a worry, not a care. She's just gone out there and done what's been asked of her. 'She's been amazing for us. She's turned up in big moments when we've needed her. She's got a lot of talent, and she can do a lot of things that not many players can do. 'Even when she scored and kept us in games, she's been the same Michelle that she was when she started this tournament. So, yeah, I'm absolutely buzzing for her. It's nice for good people to get things that they deserve, and she's definitely one of those people.' Agyemang and Arsenal team-mate Chloe Kelly have been compared to Alessia Russo and best friend Toone, England's 'super-subs' during their Euro 2022 triumph. The the latter came off the bench twice to score at that home tournament, including the first of the Lionesses' goals in their 2-1 extra-time victory over Germany in the Wembley final. And yet Agyemang's anointing this summer is even more spectacular, considering her heroics in the knockouts came during just her third and fourth senior England appearances. She burst onto the scene as a last-minute replacement for an injured Russo, then scored 41 seconds into her England debut in April, ultimately convincing Wiegman she deserved a place in her 23-woman squad. Agyemang has spent the last Women's Super League season on loan at Brighton, and could still go out on loan again for the new campaign to ensure more regular playing time – and would no doubt receive plenty of offers. She might also remain with the Champions League winners – where she will join new recruit Olivia Smith, women's football's first £1million player, at one of the most well-supported clubs in the world. Either scenario, it seems, comes with a much brighter spotlight on a wise-beyond-her-years forward who admires Kelly Smith, Russo and Lauren James but says she wants to be a 'unique player' who offers 'something different'. Toone, who also scored in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, knows exactly what it is like to achieve notoriety in a major tournament – and some of the stranger consequences that come with it. 'She might get papped eating a pasty like I did!' Toone exclaimed. 'I'll have to warn her about that. 'I think she's definitely in the bubble now but I think when she gets out she'll be recognised a lot more than she was before the tournament, that's for sure, and she definitely deserves that as well.'
