Mikel Arteta to delay Granit Xhaka exit?

New Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly not currently prepared to sanction the sale of Granit Xhaka.

The midfielder's agent has claimed that the 27-year-old has already agreed terms to join Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin during the January transfer window.

Arteta is believed to have told Xhaka that he is free to leave the club next month, but according to The Sun, the club's new head coach is currently blocking a sale.

The report claims that the Spaniard is still assessing the squad that he inherited from Unai Emery and is not planning any exits during this stage of his tenure.

Xhaka, who was stripped of the captaincy earlier this season after an on-field outburst, still has more than three years left to run on his contract at the Emirates Stadium.

The capital outfit will continue their Premier League campaign at home to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon before welcoming Manchester United on New Year's Day.