Jose Mourinho goes public with Granit Xhaka message amid Arsenal transfer talks

Jose Mourinho has sent Granit Xhaka a public message amid a stalemate in transfer negotiations between Arsenal and Roma.

Xhaka has been strongly linked with a summer transfer to Roma for several weeks but remains an Arsenal player with two weeks to go until the start of the Premier League season.

Mourinho is looking to strengthen Roma’s squad after agreeing to take over from Paulo Fonseca following his departure from Tottenham in April.

He quickly identified Xhaka as a player he wanted for the 2021/22 campaign, yet Roma have found the Gunners difficult to work with in negotiations.

Arsenal reportedly want £17million (€20m) for the Swiss midfielder, who is under contract until June 2023, while the Italian side are trying to haggle down towards £12.8m (€15m).

Xhaka is keen to move on from the club he’s played for the past five years and wants to work with Mourinho – and it seems the feeling is mutual.

The 28-year-old took to Instagram on Wednesday to pay tribute to Switzerland boss Vladimir Petkovic, who is joining Bordeaux after seven years in charge of the national side.

Will Arsenal miss Granit Xhaka next season if he moves to Roma? Have your say in the comments section below.

He wrote: “What a journey! Mister, I just want to thank you for everything. We made history together!

“It’s been an unbelievable journey – thank you for all your hard work, for your support and for the way you have shaped a national team into a group of brothers.

“We won’t forget your work and we wish you all the best in Bordeaux.”

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Xhaka is not one of the 16 people Mourinho follows on Instagram, but the Portuguese boss was quick to offer his support by putting three clap emojis under the post.

Roma’s pursuit of Xhaka has been dragging on for some time and it looks like it could continue to rumble on towards the transfer deadline on August 31.

According to reports in Italy, Roma actually need to sell some of their current players before they can afford to sign Xhaka.

Tuttosport says full-back Alessandro Florenzi is the man the club want to move on but Roma are yet to receive any concrete offers for the Italy international.

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