Chelsea have reportedly seen their bid to sign FIFA World Cup star Granit Xhaka rejected by Sunderland. The Blues started with a £8 million offer, which was turned down instantly by the Black Cats.
According to a report by David Ornstein in The Athletic, Chelsea have made their first move to sign Xhaka this summer. The Swiss star has become a target after a recommendation from new manager Xabi Alonso.
Sunderland paid £13 million to sign Xhaka last summer, and he played a key role in helping them earn their place in Europe next season. The Black Cats have insisted that the midfielder is not for sale at any price.
The FIFA World Cup star has worked with the Spaniard at Bayer Leverkusen, where they won the Bundesliga. Reports suggest that the midfielder is keen on a reunion and has already given the green signal for the move.
Xhaka's old comments on Alonso have resurfaced following the reported interest, and he was full of praise for the Spaniard. He said:
“He had no experience on the big stages. That is for sure. What he did have was charisma and character. When he entered the locker room and started to speak, everyone was completely focused. Because they listened to him. Because every word he said was true. He didn’t just repeat the words of others. He wasn’t fake. He was authentic."
"And I think that when a player feels you are authentic, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose. You keep earning their respect. All teams have egos, no doubt, but he didn’t care about big names. He only cares about what he sees on the field. He wants to see you fight. And if you train well, he’ll give you a chance. That is what I admire most about Xabi."
Chelsea are looking to sign midfielders this summer, with Enzo Fernandez linked with a move to Real Madrid after the FIFA World Cup.
What has Chelsea manager said about the FIFA World Cup star?
Xabi Alonso's old quotes on Granit Xhaka have resurfaced in recent hours, in which the Chelsea manager has drawn parallels between himself and the Swiss FIFA World Cup star. He said:
"Granit is a fantastic player and a leader on the field. It will be of great help to our team in the new edition. Of course, we all expect a lot from him, given his experience and the performances he had with the Arsenal shirt."
"I can see it in his eyes that he always wants to learn. It reminds me of the final stage of my own playing career. He wants to become a coach, and you can clearly see that. I think he will be a great coach." (via The Pride Of London)
Xhakla placed 99 matches under Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, scoring six times and assisting nine.