A detailed look at the eventful Granit Xhaka transfer saga and what Chelsea do now after missing out on the Sunderland midfielder
07:00, 06 Jul 2026
Granit Xhaka
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Granit Xhaka looks set to stay at Sunderland(Image: Alex Grimm)
Friday evening was an eventful one - even by Chelsea's standards.
A bizarre transfer saga came to an end. Chelsea's pursuit of Granit Xhaka - one that was made public less than a week before Sunderland sources briefed the midfielder was not going anywhere. The saga was short, but not so sweet, from a Blues perspective.
On Wednesday afternoon, football.london learned of Chelsea's intention to go in with a new-and-improved second offer for Xhaka after the Black Cats rejected an opening bid of £8million. That was true - that was Chelsea's plan but then Sunderland learned that Xhaka, despite wanting to move to Stamford Bridge to reunite with Xabi Alonso, would not try and force an exit from the Stadium of Light.
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From Chelsea's point of view, trying to move for Xhaka even after Sunderland's intentions have been released to the public would surely damage a club-to-club relationship that is considered strong at this point. While it is undoubtedly a blow for Alonso, the Blues have other targets in the centre of midfield and there is expected to be movement in that department before the summer transfer window concludes in early-September.
Chelsea's short pursuit of Xhaka does show the Blues' change of approach this summer. As reported towards the back end of the 2025/26 season, there has been a slight tweak when it comes to BlueCo's recruitment model - and that was back when Liam Rosenior was still head coach at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea target Granit Xhaka
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Xabi Alonso wants to bring Granit Xhaka to Chelsea(Image: Elysia Su/ISI Photos)
While BlueCo have not deviated away from their youth-centric focus in transfer windows - and will move for younger players if they feel there is an opportunity there - the club are now targeting 'ready-made' talent. Xhaka was the epitome of that but it wasn't to be from Chelsea's perspective.
There is every opportunity Chelsea end up with Enzo Fernandez as part of the squad by the time the summer transfer window closes. It is worth stressing: there is a long way to go before it does close and things can change rapidly in football, but at the time of writing, the Argentina international appears more likely to stay put at the Bridge rather than depart.
Real Madrid expressed an interest in Fernandez earlier this summer, sources say, but there was never any direct contact between Los Blancos and Chelsea regarding the midfielder. It became clear towards the end of May that the Blues would not stand in Fernandez's way as long as their £120m asking price was met.
After Fernandez's agent Javier Pastore delivered another bombshell interview last week, stating Madrid were in talks and trying to finalise a deal for his client to move to the Santiago Bernabeu, the Spanish club - like only they could - released a statement on Friday morning. In said statement, Real said the club has "no intention" of pursuing a deal to sign Fernandez this summer, in an enormous blow for the player who dreams of playing in the Spanish capital.
Nothing has changed for Chelsea. Stamford Bridge insiders told football.london shortly after the statement that the club's position has not changed throughout the process. It is - and always has been - something along the lines of, '£120m and he's yours'.
Enzo Fernandez
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Enzo Fernandez wants to leave Chelsea this summer(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside)
Sources were also keen to stress he is a highly-valued and respected Chelsea player and there is an expectation he will be playing under Alonso next season. It is very much wait and see regarding Fernandez but there is hope he will be playing for the world champions next term.
As for Andrey Santos, the situation is perhaps a less clear. Chelsea are open to selling the Brazil midfielder this summer if they believe the price is right. Like Fernandez, Santos is valued highly at Stamford Bridge, yet he is not considered untouchable.
Manchester United have been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old, as well as a number of other Premier League sides. It is no surprise Santos has admirers given his talent and potential but last season, he was a bit-part player whose name you would often be surprised to see in a starting line-up given the other midfield options.
Andrey Santos
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Andrey Santos is available for sale this summer(Image: Shaun Botterill)
Romeo Lavia has been linked with a move away from the Bridge but there is no indication - at the time of writing - that he is on his way out this summer. Dario Essugo could be loaned after a frustrating debut season in England for the Portuguese midfielder - the Blues man had interest from overseas in the January transfer window.
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Valentin Barco is expected to arrive from Strasbourg, though there has been no official confirmation from Chelsea at this point. The Blues may well be waiting for the Argentina international to fly back from North America, with the midfielder representing the 2022 World Cup winners in their defence of football's biggest competition.
While the failure to bring Xhaka to west London has hit some supporters hard, there are other targets. Chelsea's plan to bring a new central midfielder to the club was clear before the summer transfer window opened.