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Granit Xhaka becomes Arsenal's third-most expensive transfer at around £30m

Arsenal new signing Granit Xhaka at London Colney on May 20, 2016 in St Albans, England

Granit Xhaka has become Arsenal's third most expensive signing after joining from Borussia Monchengladbach.

While the transfer fee has been undisclosed, Sky Sports News HQ understands Arsenal are paying in the region of £30m for midfielder Xhaka.

After calls to "spend, spend, spend" over recent seasons, Arsenal look to be treating their supporters to an early summer gift in the form of the 23-year-old.

Norwich City's Jonny Howson and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez battle for the ball
Image: Alexis Sanchez was signed for around £35m from Barcelona in 2014

A fee of around £30m would be almost double that paid for the current third-highest signing in the club's history; the £17m, including add-ons, for Jose Antonio Reyes from Sevilla in 2004.

Who is Granit Xhaka?
Who is Granit Xhaka?

We profile Granit Xhaka - the midfielder Arsenal are paying £30m for

The £41.5m handed to Real Madrid for Mesut Ozil still tops the spending list for Arsenal, with Alexis Sanchez, £35m from Barcelona, in 2014 second.

Compared to other clubs, Arsenal's signings over £20m have been few and far between. Manchester City have signed 20 players for £20m or more, while Manchester United have signed 13, Chelsea 15 and Liverpool nine.

Mesut Ozil of Arsenal in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Swansea City at Emirates Stadium on March 2, 2016
Image: Mesut Ozil was a shock £41.5m signing from Real Madrid in 2013

Arsenal's highest transfer fees

Mesut Ozil Real Madrid £42.5m
Alexis Sanchez Barcelona £35m
Granit Xhaka Borussia Monchengladbach £30m
Jose Antonio Reyes Sevilla £17.4m
Andrey Arshavin Zenit £16.95m
Santi Cazorla Malaga £16.5m
Calum Chambers Southampton £16m
Danny Welbeck Manchester United £16m
Sylvain Wiltord Bordeaux £13m
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Southampton £12m

Andrey Arshavin (£16.95m from Zenit), Calum Chambers (£16m from Southampton), Danny Welbeck (£16m from Manchester United) are Arsenal's next highest signings, surpassing the £13m paid to Bordeaux for Sylvain Wiltord in 2000 and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£12m from Southampton) in 2011.

There have been varying reports on the amount of money Arsenal have to spend this summer, but Wenger warned fans in April that the recruitment process is as not as easy as it sounds.

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Andrey Arshavin made just two starts in his final season with Arsenal
Image: Andrey Arshavin's was signed for £16.95m on Deadline Day in January 2009

"We have to strengthen our squad but it's not obvious to find the players despite the money the English clubs will have," said Wenger.

"Of course, we will work very hard to do that. We are already working. But we have to find the players and that is not easy."

Granit Xhaka during the Bundesiga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and FC Bayern Muenchen
Image: Xhaka has joined the Gunners from Borussia Monchengladbach

Arsenal were top of the Premier League at Christmas, but ended up stumbling in late winter and early spring before a late revival saw them finish second. 

They have failed to pass the round of 16 in the Champions League for the past six seasons, with some fans becoming impatient at Wenger's tactics in the transfer market.

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