Roma boss Jose Mourinho has been handed a timely boost on his reported number one transfer target as attention turns towards the summer transfer window.
Fresh reports have linked the Portuguese boss with reigniting his interest in signing Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka having been frustrated in previous approaches for the Swiss international.
The Gunners have named Alexandre Lacazette as their skipper until the end of the season after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the armband before departing for Barcelona.
The Arsenal boss discussed the captaincy after Xhaka, another former skipper previously relieved of his duties, seemed to refuse the armband after Lacazette was taken off against Brentford on Saturday.
Xhaka appears to be distancing himself from the captaincy in North London which could lay the groundwork for a summer exit from the Gunners.
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Mourinho had hoped to bring Xhaka to the Serie A club last summer but no move came to fruition – although a transfer may now happen this year.
A report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, as cited by Sport Witness, claims that Xhaka was the Portuguese’s ‘first football love’ after his appointment in the Italian capital.
Roma remain keen on landing the central midfielder and Xhaka’s situation at Arsenal has not fully repaired from last year – leaving open the possibility of a deal this year.
Xhaka has been involved in just 12 of Arsenal’s 23 Premier League matches this year with his lack of discipline often cited as a major flaw in his game.
With Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga both in Mikel Arteta’s squad, Xhaka may be allowed to move on this summer should the Giallorossi come in with a suitable offer.
Arteta was asked about whether Odegaard could take up the mantle after the 2-1 Premier League victory and responded: "He certainly has all the qualities to do that, absolutely.
"Talking to his national team coach and how highly they speak of him. He walks through the corridor and everybody loves him.
"He is such a nice, humble guy and he leads with the way he is. It is very natural for him and that will come.
"He generated expectations when he was 16 as well. Everybody wanted him. And then he had to fulfil that in a club like Madrid where the competition is like it is.
"It is extremely difficult but now he has found his place. He is really happy here, he has the environment. He has the people, he has the time on the pitch to enjoy it and I think that is what he is doing."
Xhaka, 29, has made 235 first-team appearances for Arsenal since joining from German side Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016.
