Arsenal have told AS Roma that they will not be entertaining any offers below €20million (£17.1 m) for Granit Xhaka as Mikel Arteta looks to fund his hectic summer transfer spending spree, report Italian outlet Il Tempo via InsideFutbol.
Reports claim that the Gunners are yet to find a middle ground in negotiations with Jose Mourinho's side, despite strong interest still looming regarding the transfer of the 28-year-old's services.
The Gunners have set their price tag that they want met before talks can progress and are also demanding the the full lump sum is paid up front to fund the imminent arrivals of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ben White.
Roma are reportedly close to being able to match Arsenal's evaluation of their Swiss playmaker and are waiting for the official sales of Robin Olsen and Justin Kluivert to French outfits Lille and OGC Nice retrospectively, report Il Tempo.
Xhaka, who joined the Gunners in 2016 from Borussia Monchengladbach for a mouth-watering fee of £40.5million, has just two years remaining on his contract at the Emirates.
However, the amalgamation of the his impressive showing at Euro 2020 and registered interest this summer from Juventus has fed into the midfielder's growing desires to leave north London.
The Switzerland captain featured 31 times in the Premier League last season under Arteta, directly contributing towards three goals from midfield.
Despite operating as a staple in the Arsenal side and often captaining the side, the roots to Xhaka's desire to leave north London stem back to 2019 when he was booed by Gunners fans following his substitution in which he responded by taunting and jeering his home fans. The then-Arsenal captain tore off his shirt as he headed down the tunnel.
Since then, he has responded fantastically on the pitch for club and country earning the attention of Juventus, report CalcioMercato.
The Old Lady planned to hijack Roma's bid for the Swiss international if they could not seal the services of Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli. However, since reports emerged Juventus have looked unlikely suitors for Xhaka's signature.
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