FOOTBALL
By Eishna Rawat
Posted on July 7, 2026 1:00 am | Updated on July 6, 2026 1:05 pm Chelsea persist in pursuit of Granit Xhaka despite Sunderland’s firm refusal to sell their captain.
CHELSEA
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Granit Xhaka is once again the man at the heart of this summer’s biggest transfer news around Chelsea. Sunderland rejected the approach outright, but Chelsea keep chasing the deal. Xabi Alonso wants his old Leverkusen captain back. The Blues are not walking away yet.
Granit Xhaka Deal Hits Pushback From Sunderland
Interest from Stamford Bridge in Granit Xhaka began soon after Xabi Alonso took charge there. An £8 million bid followed within weeks. Sunderland turned it down at once, with no delay. As reported by TEAMtalk, the club made their stance clear from the very start. Their captain, they said, was simply not for sale.
The interest was no surprise. Sunderland’s captain had shone all through his first Premier League season. He helped the newly promoted side finish seventh and reach European football again.
Granit Xhaka for Sunderland in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists Successful Passes % Duels Won Recoveries
Premier League 34 1 6 84 155 179
FA Cup 2 0 0 95 3 11
The Black Cats had no plan to let their captain go this window. As reported by Sky Sports, manager Regis Le Bris has also said how much Granit Xhaka means to his squad this season.
Personal terms were said to be agreed between player and club. That added to the upset in west London. Sunderland refused to budge on their asking price, however. The midfielder had only arrived from Bayer Leverkusen a year earlier. Letting him go so soon never sat well with the club.
Granit Xhaka Remains Chelsea Target Despite Setback
Despite that pushback, Chelsea have not walked away. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano says the Blues still see a path to a deal. As reported by TEAMTalk, Romano said the Blues are “yet to give up” on a move for Granit Xhaka. Sunderland, however, are standing firm.
That effort shows how highly Alonso rates his former captain. The pair had success together at Bayer Leverkusen, lifting Germany’s top-flight crown in 2023-24. Alonso wants that same drive back in his midfield. His squad is short on senior options at present.
Money remains the real sticking point. They paid close to £17 million for Granit Xhaka just last summer. Taking anything near the rejected bid would mean a heavy loss for the Black Cats. That value gap, not a lack of will, is the real reason this story stays alive this summer.
As reported byFootball365, the club looked at a fresh package worth around £10 million. Most of that was in add-ons, rather than a straight fee. Sunderland stayed unmoved even by that new plan.
Sunderland Stay Firm, But Chelsea Keep Options Open
For now, the saga looks set to go on. Sunderland remain firm that their captain is going nowhere. He is now busy with the World Cup for Switzerland. Even so, sources close to the matter say talks could start again before the window shuts.
If nothing changes soon, the Blues could turn elsewhere. As reported by Sports Illustrated, Chelsea may need other options if this deal falls through. A shortage of senior leaders remains a real worry for Alonso this season.
Overall, this saga fits a common pattern in football. A leading club is testing a smaller side’s patience. A promoted team, meanwhile, refuses to let go of the player who made its comeback season. Either way, the outcome will shape midfield plans at Stamford Bridge for the year ahead.
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Eishna Rawat
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