Sunderland star Granit Xhaka has been linked lately with a move to Chelsea, and Black Cats fans are waiting to see where the Swiss midfielder will be playing his football come the end of the summer transfer window
Granit Xhaka shouts
Granit Xhaka has been linked with a move to Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
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Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has brutally criticised Chelsea following their attempt to sign Sunderland star Granit Xhaka in a bargain deal.
The Switzerland international’s future has been the subject of intense speculation over the last few days, with a potential departure from the Stadium of Light generating plenty of headlines.
Xhaka has become the subject of reported interest from Chelsea, with the Londoners making an £8million bid for the Sunderland star, which was swiftly rejected.
The Black Cats are believed to have been left ‘insulted’ by the offer for Xhaka, who only moved to the Stadium of Light from Bayer Leverkusen 12 months ago in a deal worth £17.5million.
Chelsea have Xabi Alonso as their new manager, with their new boss spending two years working with Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen, which has fuelled rumours that a transfer could be on the cards.
Xhaka still has two years remaining on the deal he signed to become a Sunderland player last summer, and played a key role in helping the club finish seventh in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League.
Sunderland also finished two points ahead of Chelsea in the table, with the Stamford Bridge outfit finishing 10th and failing to qualify for Europe.
Shearer has explained why he believes the offer from Chelsea was “embarrassing” as the former Newcastle striker went on to criticise the Londoners.
“Sunderland bought Granit Xhaka for £17.5m. He was one of the best players in this Premier League last season, not only at Sunderland, but in the Premier League,” Shearer told Betfair.
“And Chelsea think they can come in and offer less than half of what they bought him for and think that's acceptable? I mean, that's bizarre to me.
“I understand that he might want to go, but if he wants to go and clearly his agent has done some talking to Chelsea, then I mean it's a pretty embarrassing bid when a year earlier they paid £17.5million and he's been one of the best players in the league.
"It's embarrassing from Chelsea really.
“I mean, they're clearly not getting him. I mean, why would you sell a player for less than half when he's been one of the best players? I mean, it's ridiculous.”
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