Granit Xhaka’s recent Sunderland transfer comments have resurfaced after shock Chelsea reports emerged
Granit Xhaka’s recent comments on his Sunderland future have taken on fresh significance after shock reports linking the midfielder with Chelsea.
The Sunderland captain was speaking earlier this month while away with Switzerland, when he made clear that he was happy on Wearside and was “not even thinking about a transfer” ahead of the World Cup.
Those comments now provide important context after Fabrizio Romano claimed Xhaka could be a surprise Chelsea midfield target, while Florian Plettenberg reported that the midfielder had reached a full verbal agreement over personal terms and that Chelsea were in contact with Sunderland.
The Echo understands Sunderland would not welcome any offers for Xhaka at this stage, and the player is considered not for sale. The Black Cats are under no pressure to sell, with the midfielder under contract until 2028 after signing from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
Xhaka has been a revelation on Wearside since completing his high-profile move to the Stadium of Light, captaining Régis Le Bris’ side and playing a pivotal role in helping the Black Cats secure an unexpected Europa League qualification.
But while many onlookers were surprised by Sunderland’s success, Xhaka insisted he was not.
Speaking to Blick earlier this month, he said: “To be honest, I’m not surprised.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always made all my decisions based on my gut feeling. The move from [Bayer] Leverkusen to Sunderland wasn’t a snap decision. I had a lot of discussions with the owner, sporting director, and manager before I signed.
“Sure, you could say that winning the league title with Leverkusen was a bit of a surprise. The same goes for this season, finishing seventh in the Premier League as a newly promoted team. But I see it a little differently because I see all the hard work that goes into these successes. If you work hard day in and day out, you can achieve a lot.”
Xhaka then turned his attention to how well he has settled in the North East, emphasising both his love for the city and his family’s happiness on Wearside.
He added: “It’s a bit like home for me. The city feels like Basel. Like the St. Johann district where I grew up. You can only perform at your best when you feel comfortable in a place.
“For me, the most important thing is that my family is happy. And we are in Sunderland. I’m not even thinking about a transfer. I’m really happy to finally have a summer without any speculation about my future. That’s rarely been the case in recent years. This allows me to fully focus on the World Cup.”
Those comments are particularly interesting given the reports that have emerged today. At the time, Xhaka appeared to be making an emphatic statement about his commitment to Sunderland and his desire to focus fully on Switzerland’s World Cup campaign.
Continue Reading