Sunderland fans may find themselves in a familiar position if club captain Granit Xhaka completes a move to Chelsea. The 33-year-old has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the Blues, who had an £8m bid rejected over the weekend. This situation echoes the Alexander Isak saga at Newcastle United last summer, where the Swedish striker forced a £125m move to Liverpool after being dropped from pre-season tour and training alone at Real Sociedad.
Isak's Departure Set a Precedent
Newcastle fans were stunned when Isak, who scored the winning goal in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool and helped the club to a fifth-place Premier League finish, pushed for a move. He was labelled a 'rat, snake, Judas' by supporters. Despite his departure, Newcastle brought in replacements Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. Dimitar Berbatov warned last August that Sunderland could face a similar scenario if they impressed, a prediction that now seems prescient.
Xhaka's Situation at Sunderland
Xhaka, under contract until 2028, guided Sunderland to a seventh-place Premier League finish and Europa League qualification. He gave a heartfelt speech to fans after a 2-1 win over Chelsea on the final day, saying 'This is just the beginning.' However, he has now privately told Chelsea he wants to reunite with Xabi Alonso, his former manager at Bayer Leverkusen. Chelsea's initial £8m bid was deemed 'insulting' and swiftly rejected, with Sunderland insisting he is not for sale.
Lessons from the Marc Guiu Loan Recall
Last summer, Sunderland signed Marc Guiu on a season-long loan from Chelsea to address their need for firepower. After just three appearances, Chelsea recalled Guiu due to injuries to Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson's loan move to Bayern Munich. Sunderland agreed, leaving them scrambling for a striker. They then signed Brian Brobbey from Ajax on a five-year contract. Brobbey scored seven Premier League goals and provided an assist in his first season, transforming Sunderland's style of play with his hold-up, pace, and aerial threat. Guiu, meanwhile, managed 10 appearances, no goals, and one assist for Chelsea.
Trust the Model and Process
Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, 28, has a long-standing mantra of 'trust the model, trust the process.' Along with Florent Ghisolfi, he has proven capable of handling pressure and having contingency plans. Should Xhaka leave, fans can expect the board to act accordingly, as demonstrated by the Brobbey signing after Guiu's recall. While losing Xhaka would be a blow, Sunderland's track record suggests they can find an equally capable replacement.
