27 May 2021 14:55:54
It's shocking that one of our most important players this season is being valued at only 25M, and Roma are trying to get him for cheaper lol.

I hope Xhaka doesn't leave and it will be a big mistake if that's what we let him go for.

In a summer where we are already trying to move on at least 2 players in that position, plus having 2 loans ended in midfield, this wouldn't be good business for me.

Cue the Xhaka haters.

1.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 15:14:02
You hope xhaka doesn’t leave? What’s going on?

2.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 16:11:55
Perfect player for a slower league

If they need a driver - I will take him there especially if we get 25m.

3.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 16:56:27
I think we should hold out for 30m and use that to get Bissouma straight away.

4.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 17:12:26
Xhaka has just had his best season by a country mile since joining us 5 years ago.

But what sort of best season was it in reality?
It wasn't the sort of best ever season that's made the likes of
Liverpool, City, Bayern; Barca, Real, Chelsea take notice and start Knocking our door down, who wants him and how much are they offering?
I think that says a lot.

I couldn't care less If he stays or goes as I don't see it making a huge difference either way. If he stays well he won't be the worst player we've got, but equally if he leaves will anyone really notice other than those loyal fans who've stood by him throughout 5 pretty forgetable seasons.

5.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 17:13:03
How can people seriously think moving Xhaka on is right for the club? Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi and AMN need to leave first before we start getting rid of players who actually make out first 11 regularly. Xhaka gives a good balance and when we play without him it's shocking how bad we are. People just can't see it because they don't want to. Would I rather Bissouma? Yeah of course I would but selling Xhaka now is bad for business.

6.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 17:34:54
How many games does xhaka cost us a season think it was 6 points against Burnley alone. can’t run can’t tackle no positional sense. got a good shot that’s it get rid.

7.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 17:52:54
I can’t believe what I’m seeing. People are defending xhaka. Are u lot serious? It’s not about selling them in a specific order, it’s about selling those who aren’t good enough.

8.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 18:50:36
Dags, if you're going to sell one of your best players of the season for 20m then I'm sorry but that just shows how bad the club are right now.

Whilst he might not be 'good enough', he's been good for us this season and we have at least 5 other midfield players that aren't anywhere near the first 11.

Xhaka keeps us ticking over every game aland to lost that now would be bad for us. Upgrade him by all means but do that by selling the ones we actually need to be rid.

9.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 19:33:37
I said from day 1 Xhaka was a liability, he contributes very little

I don’t think Bissouma is the answer either, if we get him sell TP then.

10.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 19:35:06
Look at the split in our opinions on Xhaka, we've been debating him for 5 years now, if he really was that good shouldn't he have convinced us the pundits and neutrals by now?

11.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 19:49:56
Agree with an above post, its not a matter of having midfielders that we need to sell before we sell him.

The way I see it is, we should bring in a more dynamic defensive midfielder who can play in a double pivot in a 4231 or who can be a holding midfielder in a 433.

Xhaka is only effective in a pivot 4231 and cannot play as a lone DM in a 433 (not good enough defensively or quick enough to make up ground) , nor is dynamic enough to play as an 8 in a 433.

If we are to improve our midfield and bench Xhaka, then he won't want to stay, so we might as well get as much as we possibly can for him.

12.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 20:10:25
Add this to the Rumours page but thought I would add here.

I wish Granit to stay I think he’s a good enough player and could improve slightly he’s just too cautious. He may be humble enough to play some supporting role loves the club and have experience.

People on here were wishing Holding be sold in the summer and I warned we may need him from January onwards, which proves to be the case. Although we have less games to play next season I think we need an experience or more solid defender.

Pepe will continue to improve as his psychology change, maybe it’s having a child and wanting to create a legacy plus it appears he’s getting extra in training.

My reservation is in the striker position because PEA has been found out. Keep him to his left and not let him get the ball on his right and he will fizzle out especially losing pace as he aged.

13.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 21:16:20
I really wish I had a job where I could perform terribly for 5 years and yet still get people wanting me to stay. We have gone backwards during the period he has been a core member of our midfield.

Of course that’s not all his fault, but some is. He has consistently offered no protection to the back four, and in fact frequently allowed the opposition midfielder to slip by and move unmarked into our penalty box.

As a deep lying playmaker he is below average, takes too much risk in the wrong areas of the pitch and yet achieves little up front. For me just because we are shipping out other midfielders doesn’t mean he has to stay.

Yes we definitely need another midfielder for the first Xi, but let’s just get two instead. For example I would take Ward-Prowse over Xhaka all day long and twice on Sunday.

Not the worlds best number 8, but versus Xhaka he is more dynamic, works harder, passes better and tracks back and supports his defence.

{Ed014's Note - and smashes some quality free kicks into the back of the net too!

14.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 22:41:05
I forgot about the goals and set pieces Ed. Looking at the stats Ward-Prowse scored 8 goals and had 7 assists this season. He also made 75 successful tackles.

Some saying Xhaka had a good season, and to be honest, despite what I say I actually agree, it’s just come from an incredibly low base.

However despite this good season he scored once, had two assists and 50 successful tackles, all much below Ward-Prowse. He comes up marginally ahead in pass completion, but only 90% versus 87%.

For me this helps prove better is out there, we just need to know where to look ( Ruben Neves wouldn’t be a bad shout either! )

{Ed014's Note - considering Saints had a bad season too that’s not to shabby.

I do like JWP and Neves but what I’d give for Santi Cazorla back again!

15.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 22:46:48
Best season? Compared to what? He’s average and a liability, ta tah granite, ciaou, arivaderce, au revoir
Joking aside he has improved this season but still not good enough for us.
Strange how people see totally different things in the same player, which proves the point “ he’s not good enough” or we would agree

What’s more important is, who kidnapped Pepe and replaced him with a decent looking player? 🤣🤣.

16.) 27 May 2021
27 May 2021 23:08:52
Neves would be a fantastic signing.

17.) 28 May 2021
28 May 2021 05:42:10
Credit where it is due, he has suprised me this season but, let's face it he has always got a sending off in him as he just can't time tackles. His habit of throwing himself to the floor when anyone comes anywhere near him really winds me up.

25M I'd snap their hands off.

18.) 28 May 2021
28 May 2021 07:17:49
It's funny because when you go down the stats route, Xhaka and Kante have got very similar stats for the last 3 seasons. In 2 of them, Xhaka has actually managed more tackles and/ or ball recoveries 😂 I guess that means Kante can't tackle either lol. That's without even going in to the amount of passeses and pass accuracy that Xhaka has over Kante. Now I'm not for a minute saying that Xhaka is better than Kante before you all go mad but the bloke puts in one hell of a shift for us. He was relied on to much to do a job he wasn't really cut out for and then suddenly he gets a partner in Partey and he has his best season 🤷🏻‍♂️.

19.) 28 May 2021
28 May 2021 08:12:13
I think that sums up stats perfectly Glen, if you can make Xhaka comparable to Kante then you can make Skegness look like Caribbean.

But you'd struggle to convince many people who's been to both to agree with you 😃😁😀😀😯

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say 🖒.

20.) 28 May 2021
28 May 2021 08:58:30
That is very true Gunner mate. I have found that out with house hunting! Pictures look great but in person it's not all that.
The rumour now is that Roma want to pay 10m, not the €25m we want.

Regardless of who it is, if we are going to sell one our best players this season for 10m then that just rings alarms bells to me. It shows what a bad position we are in as a football club imo.

21.) 29 May 2021
28 May 2021 09:03:39
I’d put a shift in for £100k per week but I’d be a liability as well 🤣 that’s the issue with xhaka it’s his decision making and where he does it, don’t get me wrong he does seem to give 100% every game but has cost us a lot of goals against and lost points
My stats are better than kantes btw on paper ( and in crayon) 🤣🤣.