“Everyone will be after him” – Pundit expresses confidence in ‘big occasion player’ Arsenal are trying to sign now

Former Scottish footballer Ally McCoist believes Ilkay Gundogan would be a statement signing for Arsenal. The pundit added that the German would be a more prominent signing than Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who moved to the Emirates from the Etihad last summer.

Gundogan is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and has attracted interest from Arsenal. The Gunners want him to replace Granit Xhaka, who is expected to leave the club in the summer.

McCoist was on talkSPORT on Tuesday when he claimed that Mikel Arteta would make a big statement if he managed to lure Gundogan. He said:

"What a statement that would be. It's a bigger statement than [Gabriel] Jesus, it's a bigger statement than [Oleksandr] Zinchenko for me. You're getting a brilliant player and the age factor doesn't really come into it nowadays for 32-year-olds, they've kept themselves meticulously fit."

He added:

"There are great pros and he's certainly that. The only negative is you've not got a sell-on, but that's balanced by the fact you might be getting him on a free transfer. He's a winner and he's a big occasion player, that's exactly what he is. Everyone will be after him."

However, Arsenal are not alone in the race for Gundogan, as Barcelona are also keen on signing him. The German has been a top target for the Catalan side, and reports suggest they have held talks with his entourage.

Granit Xhaka hints at leaving Arsenal in the summer

Granit Xhaka was talking to Evening Standard earlier this week when he hinted that it might be time to leave Arsenal. He claimed that things would be clear next week, when the season is officially done.

He said:

"You will know latest next week, for sure. Yes. I think [the fans] deserve that as well and I do myself as well. We have one more week of this Premier League season, the first thing is I want to enjoy [it] and for sure you guys will know next week what happens with my future."

When quizzed if Mikel Arteta is the right manager for the Gunners after missing out on the Premier League title, Xhaka added:

"He is more than the right manager for this team. We don't need to forget how we worked for 11 months. Even when we lost now in the last two games, of course, the people see what happens now, but don't forget the 11 months we worked."

Xhaka was linked with AS Roma last summer, and he was in talks with the Italian side. However, Mikel Arteta convinced him to stay at Emirates for another season.