Arteta set to offer Leicester £40m plus Xhaka in exchange for Ndidi in his first act as Arsenal boss

ARSENAL have offered Premier League rivals Leicester City a cash sum of £40m in addition to Granit Xhaka in an audacious bid to lure the Super Eagles midfielder to the Emirates season during the forthcoming transfer window.

Currently sitting in 10th place in the Premier League table, Arsenal have conceded a total of 27 goals in 17 games this season. Due to the team's porous defensive record, the Arsenal board who are on the verge of appointing a new manager, have decided to beef up the midfield shield in front of the defence and see Ndidi as central to this plan.

Over the last two seasons, Ndidi has won more tackles in the English Premier league than any other player and is regarded as the best ball winner in the league. With former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta set to be named as the new Gunners boss any minute from now, the team wants to get off to a flying start in the new year with several big name purchases.

Already, the Gunners are planning a clear-out with Xhaka and fellow midfielder Mesut Ozil expected to leave once Arteta arrives. Ndidi, 23, who is valued at £60m, has been a regular for the Foxes since 2017 and has been influential in Brendan Rodgers’ side's brilliant performance this season, that has resulted in Leicester sitting in second place in the table.

He has only missed just one Premier League fixture so far and his form has caught the eye of Arsenal fans, who are urging the club to buy Ndidi. Leicester, however, is not thought to be keen on selling any of its star men over the coming weeks but Arsenal’s impending offer looks set to test the club's resolve.

If Arsenal can complete a stunning swoop, the club may have finally found the Patrick Vieira-like midfield figure it has been crying out for over the past 15 years. Arteta, currently the Manchester City assistant manager, said an emotional goodbye to his club colleagues this morning before departing for north London to finalise his appointment as new Arsenal manager.

Apart from Ndidi, Arteta is said to be interested in signing Sevilla starlet Antonio Zarzana, with the 17-year-old already on his January wish-list. Arsenal have long been admirers of Zarzana but the club will face stiff competition from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool for his services.