Chelsea are frantically trying to overhaul their midfield this summer, and that quest has led them directly to Granit Xhaka. The Switzerland international is currently away on World Cup duty with his country, but is one of the experienced names new manager Xabi Alonso wants to build his rebuild around at Stamford Bridge.
The 33-year-old enjoyed a superb debut campaign on Wearside after arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, where he had previously thrived under Alonso. He appeared 34 times in the league last season, scoring once and setting up six goals, as Sunderland shocked the division by finishing seventh and qualifying for Europe.
Remarkably, on the final day, the Black Cats secured their place in next season’s Europa League at the expense of Chelsea themselves. Alonso, sources say, was a personal advocate for Chelsea’s owners to get this deal done, given the bond the pair had built. They helped Leverkusen win its first Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season.
The Blues have already made an offer of around £26m for the midfielder. Such a move would mark a dramatic shift for a club that has fielded the youngest team in the Premier League over the last two seasons.
However, Sunderland have made their position abundantly clear and would not welcome any approach this window. The captain is under contract until 2028, and the club is not in a financial position to sell its prized leader. But earlier reports suggested Xhaka and Chelsea had reached a verbal agreement, with personal terms understood to be fully agreed.
How Chelsea’s Midfield Gamble Fits Xabi Alonso’s Bigger Vision
Chelsea’s interest in Xhaka cannot be separated from the wider reshaping unfolding under Alonso this summer. The Spaniard has already moved swiftly to secure Atalanta wing-back Marco Palestra. That capture saw the Blues hijack Inter Milan to land one of Serie A’s brightest young defenders.
The midfield picture, though, is where the genuine urgency lies for the west London outfit. Speculation continues to grow that Enzo Fernandez could push for a move to Real Madrid this summer. Chelsea reportedly value the Argentina international at around £120million, though no formal approach has yet arrived.
That context explains exactly why an experienced head like Xhaka suddenly appeals to a famously youthful project. Some of the club’s leadership, including co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, have acknowledged that adjustments are needed to improve recruitment. Much of the criticism has centred on a perceived lack of leadership and dressing-room culture, qualities Xhaka was widely praised for at Sunderland.