Euro 2016 player to watch: Granit Xhaka set to become one of the stars of the tournament

England fans should already be fairly familiar with Vladimir Petković's Switzerland side, who finished second behind the Three Lions in Euro 2016 qualifying Group E. Although Roy Hodgson's men won both their games in impressive fashion, the Swiss still boast a number of sought-after players, including the likes of Ricardo Rodríguez of Wolfsburg and Stoke City's Xherdan Shaqiri.

But perhaps the most talked-about player in the Swiss squad will be the reportedly Arsenal-bound midfielder Granit Xhaka, who could even make the switch from Borussia Monchengladbach to the Emirates Stadium before the start of the tournament. The 23-year-old playmaker has already made 40 appearances at international level and is firmly established as a key member of the Swiss squad.

Despite his tender age, Xhaka is already regarded as a veteran, having made himself the heartbeat of a Gladbach team after joining the club from Basel in 2012. Since his £6.3m ($9.2m) switch to the Bundesliga club, his reputation and value has sky-rocketed, and Xhaka is now among the most talked-about midfield talents in Europe.

While in Switzerland, the creative player helped the club to win a league and cup double, with the then-teenage star claiming the coveted young player of the year en route. Meanwhile, at international level, Xhaka led Switzerland to Under-17 World Cup glory in Nigeria in 2009 and to a second-place finish at the Euro Under-21 finals in 2011.

By the age of 18, Xhaka was a full international, barely 12 months after he made his debut at club level. The youngster was also selected in the Swiss squad for the 2014 World Cup on the strength of his performances in the Bundesliga, where he impressed neutral supporters despite some inconsistencies in his game.

Indeed, the national coach at the time, Ottmar Hitzfeld, hailed Xhaka's immense potential and likened him to Germany's World Cup-winning midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. The left-footed midfielder - who has been handed the captain's armband at Gladbach - has been playing the best football of his career over the past few months, helping his team to a top-four finish and clearly thriving under the newfound responsibility of leadership.

It seems unlikely, though, that Xhaka will return to the Bundesliga next season, having been strongly linked with Arsenal over recent months and having frequently talked up the prospect of a transfer to England. "The Premier League is not my goal, but a childhood dream. It is a dream that could be fulfilled," he recently told the Swiss TV station SRF. "As of now, I am still a Gladbach player." The Premier League fanatic added: "That might change in the next weeks, or it might not."

Xhaka is contracted to the Borussia Park club until 2019 and is reported to have a £22m release clause. However, that clause cannot be activated until the summer of 2017. Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with a £32m bid for the coveted player and they may wish to seal the transfer before Euro 2016, because his performances at the tournament could see Xhaka's stock rise even higher.

One thing is for certain, whoever ultimately signs Xhaka will have an enormously talented player on their hands and one capable of starring at this summer's tournament.