Chelsea will make fresh contact with Sunderland on Monday in their pursuit of midfielder Granit Xhaka, reports claim. The Blues are keen to pair the Switzerland international with incoming boss Xabi Alonso, who drew the best from him during their time together at Bayer Leverkusen.
There is no confusion about Xhaka’s place in this saga. The 33-year-old is keen to join Chelsea and work under Alonso again and is understood to be prepared to meet the requirements to make the switch happen. The deal is still difficult to complete despite the enthusiasm of the player, though sources insist it is not dead at this stage.
The complicating factor is Sunderland, who have already rejected Chelsea’s first offer. The Black Cats ‘decisively rejected’ an official offer of around £8m, according to reports. The bid was deemed ‘unacceptable’ and the Blues were told that the midfielder was not available at any price. The Wearside club saw the low bid as a sign of disrespect to both their captain and the institution.
Why Chelsea Are Keen On Signing Xhaka For Alonso’s First Signing
The Basque coach knows exactly what Xhaka brings, having watched him anchor the engine room in Leverkusen’s historic, unbeaten Bundesliga-winning campaign in 2023-24. The club also won the DFB-Pokal and reached the Europa League final that season, with the midfielder a non-negotiable presence throughout.
It would also be a change in philosophy for the owners of Chelsea. BlueCo have built their recruitment model around young, high-ceiling talents, so the move for a player who turns 34 in September is genuinely unusual. But this current squad is full of potential but lacks the experienced heads to see them through the tough, high-pressure moments that make and break seasons.
There is real evidence to support Alonso’s belief in the veteran. Xhaka made 32 starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League last season, scoring one goal with six assists. Under his stewardship, Sunderland finished an incredible seventh, earning the club European football for the first time in 53 years. Painfully for the Blues, that feat was achieved by Sunderland with a final-day win over Chelsea, a result which relegated Alonso’s new side to 10th in the table.
Whether Monday’s contact will affect Sunderland’s stance remains to be seen. Xhaka is under contract at the Stadium of Light until 2028. Chelsea now has to decide how hard to push, the player is onside but the selling club for the moment is refusing to budge.