Sunderland expect Granit Xhaka to remain at the club following fresh discussions with Chelsea, according to Standard Sport. The Black Cats consider Chelsea's pursuit of the midfielder to be over and have reiterated that their captain is not for sale.
Chelsea's £8m Bid Rejected
Last week, Chelsea submitted an £8 million offer for the 33-year-old Swiss international, which Sunderland deemed disrespectful and undervaluing the player. Chelsea factored in Xhaka's age and the two years remaining on his contract when making the bid. Despite Sunderland's stance, Chelsea's interest in the influential midfielder persists.
Xabi Alonso's Influence
The interest from Chelsea originated from manager Xabi Alonso, who previously coached Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso made Xhaka a key player in Leverkusen's 2024 Bundesliga-winning campaign, where they stunned Bayern Munich and remained unbeaten domestically while reaching the Europa League final. Xhaka is attracted to the prospect of reuniting with Alonso, but Sunderland insist he has reaffirmed his commitment to the club.
Xhaka's Impact at Sunderland
Xhaka was lauded this season for his leadership at Sunderland, where he was named captain. He helped the newly-promoted side finish seventh in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League, surpassing all expectations.
Chelsea's Shift in Transfer Strategy
Targeting Xhaka signals a change in Chelsea's transfer approach. Since the 2022 takeover by BlueCo, the club has predominantly signed young players. However, internal discussions throughout the season led the hierarchy to conclude that greater leadership is needed within the squad. Chelsea retain some hope the situation could be revived, but Sunderland have maintained that Xhaka is strictly not for sale.
