Sunderland have rejected an initial bid for Granit Xhaka but the story looks to have some way to run yet
Sunderland's summer was rocked by news last week that Chelsea were making a move for midfielder Granit Xhaka - and that the midfielder is keen on the move.
The Black Cats have since knocked back an £8 million bid - so what happens next and what does it mean for Sunderland?
Here, our writers James Copley and Phil Smith give their view...
What’s your gut feeling on how this will eventually unfold?
JC: My gut feeling is that we have not heard the end of this. Sunderland’s stance is clear, and I do believe they do not want to sell Granit Xhaka, but this now feels like a situation with too much noise to simply disappear overnight. The key will be whether Chelsea are prepared to meet Sunderland’s valuation and whether Sunderland can source a replacement they trust. If those two things happen, I think Xhaka probably leaves.
That said, Sunderland are protected. He is under contract until 2028, so there are two years left on his deal, and the club are under no pressure to accept anything that does not suit them. That gives Sunderland leverage.
But if a player wants the move, Chelsea push hard enough, and the fee reaches the right level, my instinct is this one still has a way to run. Ultimately, I think he goes.
PS: I'd be very pleasantly surprised if Xhaka is lining up for Sunderland on opening day. Xhaka is crucial to Sunderland as their talisman on and off the pitch but if he's clearly unhappy behind the scenes, that could be immensely damaging to morale and unity. I expect the ownership to take the view that if he really wants to move on, better to recoup a good fee and avoid a drawn-out saga that will make other players think twice before joining the club in the future. He has been simply sensational and a generational signing, but no one is bigger than the club. Make no mistake, though, Sunderland aren't going to roll over and so it's now absolutely incumbent on Chelsea to get real.
What would you consider a satisfactory fee from a Sunderland perspective?
JC: From a Sunderland perspective, I think you are looking at somewhere between £20million and £25million as the point where the conversation becomes serious. Anything below that and I do not see how it properly reflects what Chelsea would be buying.
You are not just paying for a 33-year-old midfielder. You are paying for one of the best midfielders in the Premier League last season, Sunderland’s captain, their dressing-room leader and a player who transformed the team’s level almost instantly. You are also paying for the inconvenience caused to Sunderland. Xhaka has two years left on his contract, Sunderland do not need to sell, and Chelsea clearly need a player of his profile and ilk. Their new manager is desperate to sign him. If they want Sunderland’s talisman, they should have to pay a premium.
PS: Regardless of Xhaka's age, £8 million was a genuinely laughable bid from Chelsea. Sunderland would need to go out and replace one of the best midfielders in the world so the idea that they'd sell for a cash and SCR loss is utterly absurd. We're biased towards Sunderland and Xhaka's value will only decline from here, but £15 million has surely to be the absolute baseline. I'd agree that £20 million is the point at which you begin to recognise that Chelsea are very serious and at which a deal begins to have benefits for Sunderland that make the loss of their star player a touch more palatable. Premier League survival and a good Europa League run is worth well over £100 million to Sunderland - Chelsea's bid needs to reflect how key Xhaka is to all of that.
How much would a Granit Xhaka departure impact your confidence for next season?
JC: It would be an early blow, no question. Football is never simple or straightforward, and there is obviously a world where Xhaka stays and Sunderland still struggle. There is also a world where he leaves, Sunderland recruit well and the team evolves again.
But before seeing what Sunderland do in the rest of the window, my immediate feeling is that losing him would have a knock-on impact on both the current squad and the fanbase’s confidence - it's just not ideal.
Sunderland are protected by the fact he has two years left on his deal, so this is not a situation where the club have to panic. They also have form for improving after big sales but in terms of stature, leadership and influence, this feels like the biggest potential sale yet and probably the hardest to recover from.
PS: I've huge confidence in Sunderland's ability to recruit very well, and also firmly believe there are players such as Brian Brobbey and now Enzo Le Fée massively stepping up in this team and reaching another level. If you look at those performances in the final weeks of last season, this was not a one-man team. Xhaka has had an immense impact on the club and they're better equipped now on and off the pitch for his influence, so I'm not looking at it as a doomsday scenario. Even so, I'm not sure there's any point pretending that this wouldn't start Sunderland off on the back foot. He is still clearly their best player, who dragged them through difficult moments last season. I can't pretend it wouldn't dent my belief in what's possible next season, but that doesn't mean it can't still be a successful one without Xhaka.
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