Sporting director reveals Granit Xhaka transfer truth after five-month Arsenal 'signal'

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has opened up on how he managed to agree a deal to sign Granit Xhaka from Arsenal.

Xhaka left Arsenal last summer to join the Bundesliga club in a £21.5 million deal after spending seven years at the Emirates Stadium. The midfielder finished his career with the Gunners with 23 goals and 29 assists across 297 total appearances.

The Switzerland international is currently playing a key role for Leverkusen under manager Xabi Alonso this season. Leverkusen are top of the Bundesliga table, with the 2-0 win over FC Koln on Sunday moving the club 10 points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the table.

Now Rolfes, who was the main figure behind the deal to sign Xhaka from Arsenal, has opened up on the behind-the-scenes negotiations to sign the midfielder. The Gunners had paid Borussia Monchengladbach £35 million to sign Xhaka in 2016, and Rolfes has explained the process to sign the 31-year-old in July last summer, five months getting a 'positive signal' about the deal.

«Granit was the top option for us,» Rolfes told Frankfurter Rundschau. «That's why we tried to find him so early.

»If he had said he wanted to stay in London, it wouldn't have worked. But we already had his positive signal in February.

Arsenal line ups vs Sheffield United as Emile Smith Rowe returns and Fabio Vieira decision made

Mikel Arteta has already shown Jamal Musiala Arsenal's transfer intent amid Bayern decision

«It was a long battle with Arsenal after that, but Granit had always behaved correctly there, even in difficult times. That's what made the transfer in July possible.»

Since leaving Arsenal, Xhaka has made 32 appearances for Leverkusen and has scored one goal. That one strike came in the 2-1 victory over