Arsenal star Granit Xhaka closing in on £17m Roma transfer to add to Mikel Arteta’s kitty and link up with Jose Mourinho

ROMA are close to completing a £17million deal for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, according to reports.

Securing the Swiss star is a priority of the club’s director of football Tiago Pinto.

WIN £50,000!Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game

Granit Xhaka could have played his last game for Arsenal

Incoming boss Jose Mourinho is eager to bolster Roma’s engine room.

And he believes that Xhaka, 28, is just the man for the job.

Arsenal rejected Roma’s initial bid of around £13m for their former captain.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho’s new side have now upped their bid to £17m and are close to completing a deal.

Personal terms have been agreed with Xhaka, with a deal nearly read to go.

He will leave having made 220 appearances for the club since joining in 2016.

The sale will add to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta‘s summer transfer kitty.

And the Spaniard is reportedly targeting a pair of Premier League-ready midfielders to replace Xhaka.

Mikel Arteta will bolster his midfield this summer

BETTING SPECIAL – GET ENGLAND TO WIN EURO 2020 AND HARRY KANE TO BE TOP SCORER AT 18/1

Arsenal are trying to tie up a £35m deal for Wolves star Ruben Neves.

The Portuguese has been a key man for the Midlanders.

But following Bruno Lage’s arrival, Wolves want to refresh their side.

Another that could arrive is Brighton star Yves Bissouma.

The Malian, 24, is coming off an excellent campaign and is reportedly keen on a move to North London.

Yves Bissouma is among the players being targeted by the Gunners

Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds