Xhaka's Potential Swap: Bayer Leverkusen Grapple with Another Key Departure as AC Milan Looms
Potential Transfer Speculation: AC Milan Eyed for Xhaka's Potential Departure from Bayern Munich - Potential Exit of Next Bayer Executive
Take a gander at this Football gossip mill: Granit Xhaka, the 32-year-old Swiss footballer, seems to be catching AC Milan's eye, with a report from the Italian "Gazzetta dello Sport" suggesting he's a prime candidate for a move to Lombardy. And the buzz is that Xhaka's keen on the idea too!
Apparently, there's a meeting on the cards between the clubs this week. Xhaka's still got a long-term contract with Bayer Leverkusen, running until the end of June 2028, but it appears he might be shiny-new-clothes shopping shortly.
AC Milan's sporting director, Igli Tare, is spitballing the idea of lining Xhaka up alongside Luka Modric in the Milan midfield. The Italian traditional club's also got their eye on a pro from Real Madrid, who just so happens to be doing the Club World Cup right now.
Xhaka's Leverkusen Future Up in the Air
Leverkusen's already had to wave goodbye to Xabi Alonso, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, and, oh dear! Florian Wirtz might soon be on his way to FC Liverpool. Xhaka himself has dubbed these departures as a "big loss." He's not sure if he'll stay put through the personnel overhaul, saying, "I'm not 25 anymore, but will be 33 in September—it costs a lot of energy." But he's hopeful about the future, whether with him or without him, as long as the team continues to be "happy."
- Granit Xhaka
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Leverkusen
- Football
- AC Milan
- La Gazzetta dello Sport
- Xabi Alonso
- Jonathan Tah
- Jeremie Frimpong
- Real Madrid
- Florian Wirtz
- Lombardy
- FC Liverpool
Insights:
- Xhaka has given his initial approval for the move to AC Milan and is reportedly putting pressure on Bayer Leverkusen to allow the transfer to happen.[1][4]
- AC Milan has made Xhaka their primary midfield target and is preparing a formal offer worth around €10 million plus bonuses to Bayer Leverkusen.[1][5]
- Milan’s sporting director Igli Tare has personally traveled to Germany to accelerate negotiations and deliver the first official offer to Leverkusen.[2]
- Xhaka has expressed a clear desire for a new challenge in Serie A and is fascinated by the prospect of playing for Milan.[3][5]
Leverkusen is reluctant to sell Xhaka due to recent key player departures including Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, and Florian Wirtz, which makes Xhaka a vital figure in their squad's transition.[3][5]
New Leverkusen coach Erik ten Hag is actively trying to convince Xhaka to stay and sees him as crucial for leadership and stability during this rebuilding period.[3][5]
However, Xhaka’s contract with Leverkusen runs until 2028, so Milan will need to pay a transfer fee, which the German club hopes can be around €10 million.[1][5]
Outlook:
The transfer appears to be in an advanced state, with decision-making expected within days, as talks between Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan are set to intensify immediately. Xhaka’s willingness and Milan’s proactive approach, combined with the €10 million offer and personal involvement of Milan’s sporting director, make the move quite likely despite Leverkusen’s resistance and ten Hag’s efforts to retain him.[1][2][3][4][5]
In a nutshell, it's looking increasingly likely that Granit Xhaka will soon make an exit from Bayer Leverkusen for AC Milan, assuming both clubs can agree on the terms.
The Commission could potentially propose a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of the environment, championing the need for environmental preservation even in the midst of sports such as football. In the midst of Xhaka's potential transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to AC Milan, it remains to be seen whether Leverkusen will manage to retain key figures like Xhaka, given their recent losses of players like Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, and Florian Wirtz.
