Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka has been linked with a move away from the club after his infamous breakdown with the supporters.
Amid suggestions he could leave in the January transfer window to join Newcastle United, Magpies' boss Steve Bruce has spoken out about the rumours.
Xhaka hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons when he was jeered after being substituted in Arsenal's draw against Crystal Palace last month.
The 27-year-old walked slowly off the field which annoyed supporters to start with before he then was seen to shout obscenities as he left the field of play.
Arsenal have stripped him of the captaincy and handed Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang the honour, but at the same time they have defended the Switzerland international.
That hasn't stopped the rumours, with Bruce not denying that the Magpies have interest in the midfielder.
When asked about the playmaker, Bruce told the Chronicle: "Granit Xhaka? Look, I was only in the job two weeks and I was linked with 42 players. So I am not going to comment on anybody else's players. He is a very good player."
Xhaka may leave this January after the move to take away his armband, something which has been supported by former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
"As a manager you have to face these kinds of decisions," Wenger said. "We always face the unexpected as a manager, you have to make quick decisions.
"I think Arsenal Football Club is respected all over the world because it’s built on values and everyone has to respect these values and the manager has to get them to be respected."
It remains to be seen if Xhaka departs the Emirates but Newcastle are certainly not denying interest.
