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LONDON. — Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka. That is according to top German newspaper Bild, who claim the Gunners are “likely” to secure the services of the 23-year-old this summer for £35 million.

Xhaka has also been linked with a move to Liverpool, whose manager Jurgen Klopp is said to be a big admirer of the Switzerland international, as well as Manchester City.

But the midfielder is expected to choose the Gunners and Bild believe it will be the most high-profile – and expensive – deal coming out of the Bundesliga in the upcoming window.

The former Basel man, who joined Gladbach for £6,5 million in 2012, has made no secret of his desire to one day play in the Premier League.

“Everybody has a childhood dream, and for me it is England,” he told Sport1.de.

“That doesn’t mean that I have to go there – I’m extremely happy here and everything suits me down to the ground. But you do have to take a look around and talk with the club. Gladbach have given me everything I wanted and this has become a second home for me.”

Meanwhile, Petr Cech and David Ospina will both be back in contention for Arsenal in this weekend’s game against Watford.

Arsene Wenger was given a shock when both his senior goalkeepers appeared to be injured this month before the international break.

Cech was the first to be sidelined, suffering a calf injury in the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat to Watford in the FA Cup quarter-final. — The Daily Express.