Here is a roundup of the top Chelsea news, gossip and transfer latest from icfootballnews featuring Granit Xhaka, Malo Gusto and Julian Alvarez that you may have missed…
Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka is at the centre of intense transfer speculation after multiple German reports claimed the 33‑year‑old has agreed personal terms with Chelsea.
According to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, Xhaka and Chelsea have reached a “full verbal agreement”, with personal terms already settled as the Swiss international pushes for a move back to London. The deal is said to be driven directly by Alonso, who previously coached Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen, where the pair won the Bundesliga title together.
CHELSEA’s interest marks a notable shift in their recruitment strategy. Under the BlueCo ownership, the club has largely focused on signing young, high‑potential players.
Xhaka, who turns 34 in September, represents a move toward adding leadership and experience to a squad that struggled last season, finishing 10th in the Premier League. Alonso is reportedly keen to bring in seasoned figures to stabilise the dressing room and accelerate the rebuild.
However, Sunderland’s stance remains firm. The Black Cats consider their captain “not for sale”, with no club‑to‑club contact taking place so far.
Xhaka, who joined Sunderland from Leverkusen last summer, played a pivotal role in their remarkable campaign, helping the newly promoted side finish seventh and qualify for the Europa League. He remains under contract until 2028, and the club is under no financial pressure to sell.
Despite Sunderland’s position, Chelsea are expected to test their resolve. Reports suggest the Blues are preparing an offer in the region of €30 million (£26m) following Alonso’s express request to secure the midfielder.
Xhaka, currently on World Cup duty with Switzerland, has previously spoken warmly about his time at Sunderland, describing the city as “a bit like home.” Yet the lure of reuniting with Alonso and returning to London appears to be a decisive factor behind his willingness to agree terms.
With CHELSEA already in contact with Sunderland and Alonso pushing hard for the transfer, the coming days could prove decisive. For now, Sunderland insist their captain is going nowhere — but the growing noise from Germany suggests this developing saga is far from over
GUSTO WANTS OUT
Chelsea full-back Malo Gusto is reportedly open to joining Manchester City this summer, although the former Premier League champions face a significant obstacle in completing a deal, with Chelsea maintaining a firm valuation of the French defender.
According to recent reports, Manchester City have identified Gusto as a potential option as new boss Enzo Maresca looks to strengthen his defensive ranks ahead of the new season. The 23-year-old is said to be interested in the prospect of working under Maresca, with City offering the opportunity to compete for major domestic and European honours.
Despite the reported interest from both player and club, CHELSEA are reluctant to sanction a sale unless their asking price is met. The Blues view Gusto as a valuable long-term asset and are not under pressure to cash in, having signed the France international from Lyon in 2023 on a long-term contract.
Gusto impressed during his appearances for Chelsea last season, demonstrating his pace, attacking quality and versatility across the back line. With Reece James continuing to manage his fitness, Gusto featured regularly and established himself as an important member of Chelsea’s squad.
Manchester City’s interest comes amid uncertainty surrounding their full-back options and reports suggest the club are keen to recruit a specialist right-back capable of providing both defensive stability and attacking width.
Chelsea, however, are understood to have no desire to weaken their squad by selling one of their promising young defenders to a direct Premier League rival. Club officials reportedly believe Gusto’s value has increased since his arrival in west London, meaning City would need to submit a substantial offer before negotiations could progress.
The financial demands surrounding any potential transfer are currently viewed as the principal stumbling block. While Gusto is reportedly attracted by the possibility of joining City, no agreement has been reached between the clubs, and there is no indication that a transfer is close to completion.
Chelsea continue to reshape their squad ahead of the new campaign but remain determined to retain key players capable of contributing over the long term. Gusto is regarded internally as one of the club’s emerging talents, with his age and development potential strengthening Chelsea’s negotiating position.
As the transfer window continues, Manchester City are expected to monitor the situation while assessing alternative defensive targets.
Unless City’s valuation moves closer to CHELSEA‘s demands, Gusto is likely to remain at Stamford Bridge, where he is expected to compete for a prominent role in Maresca’s plans for the upcoming season.
SIMEONE DONE WITH ALVAREZ
Diego Simeone has reportedly informed the board at Atlético Madrid that he is open to sanctioning the departure of striker Julián Álvarez, as speculation intensifies over a summer transfer battle involving Arsenal, Chelsea and FC Barcelona.
According to multiple reports in Spain, Simeone has privately communicated to Atlético’s hierarchy that he will not stand in the striker’s way if a suitable offer arrives, following recent comments attributed to Álvarez suggesting uncertainty over his long-term future in Madrid.
The forward, who joined Atlético amid significant expectations, is said to be frustrated by inconsistent playing time and tactical rotation within Simeone’s system. While he has delivered important goals in domestic and European competitions, sources close to the player suggest he is seeking a more central attacking role ahead of next season.
Álvarez’s situation has quickly attracted attention across Europe, with Arsenal, CHELSEA and Barcelona all reportedly monitoring developments closely. Each club is believed to view the Argentine international as a high-ceiling attacking option capable of operating across the front line, though no formal bids have yet been submitted.
For Atlético Madrid, the potential departure of Álvarez would represent a significant decision. The club invested heavily in his acquisition and had initially planned for him to be a long-term cornerstone of their attacking rebuild.
However, internal discussions are understood to have shifted in recent weeks as concerns over squad balance and player satisfaction have grown.
Simeone, known for his pragmatic approach to squad management, is said to favour players fully committed to his demanding tactical structure. While he remains a strong admirer of Álvarez’s technical ability and pressing intelligence, he is reportedly unwilling to guarantee a fixed starting role, particularly given competition for places in the final third.
The situation is further complicated by Atlético’s broader summer planning, with the club also exploring reinforcements in midfield and defence. Offloading a high-value asset such as Álvarez could provide financial flexibility, but would also require replacing his output in a competitive market.
For now, Atlético maintain that no official decision has been made regarding the striker’s future. However, the growing number of suitors and the player’s apparent openness to a move have ensured that his situation will remain one of the most closely watched transfer narratives of the summer window.
As discussions develop behind the scenes, the coming weeks are expected to be decisive in determining whether Álvarez remains in Madrid or becomes the centerpiece of one of Europe’s most high-profile transfer sagas.
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