Arsenal have deal in place to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka

Arsenal have all but completed a deal to sign Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer, which would lend some much needed relief to the team's problems in midfield. The Gunners are likely to let go of a few key players in the summer and Xhaka's arrival will build up the numbers for Arsene Wenger, who would want his team to properly challenge for the title next season.

German publication Bild reports that Arsenal have a deal in place with Monchengladbach for the transfer of Xhaka, for a fee believed to be in the range of €45m (£35m, $51m). Xhaka is likely to be brought in as cover for Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, all three of whom are likely to be leaving the club after their contracts expire this season.

Xhaka can play as a deep-lying playmaker alongside Francis Coquelin or replace the Frenchman completely in the first XI, with Aaron Ramsey or Santi Cazorla capable of playing alongside him.

The midfielder has a penchant for the rash, having already picked up seven yellow cards and three red cards this season in the Bundeslig - something he has to work on if he has to make it in the Premier League, where referees are less lenient than in Germany.

The Swiss international has scored three goals and assisted one in all competitions in 2016 and would add a much needed threat from midfield, which the Gunners have missed this season owing to a barrage of key players falling foul to injury.

Wenger is likely to be heavily active in the market this summer and the transfer of Xhaka may well be the loose end that the Gunners were missing this season. The north London club are also in the market for a striker, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic a possible target after the striker revealed that he would consider a move to the Premier League after refusing to extend his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.