Sunderland Closes Door on Chelsea's Pursuit of Granit Xhaka
Chelsea’s quest to enhance their midfield with more leadership has hit a significant roadblock as Sunderland firmly rejected their advances for club captain Granit Xhaka. The new Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso, who previously worked with Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen, had hoped to reunite with the midfielder, but Sunderland's stance is unequivocal: Xhaka is not for sale. Sunderland's resistance follows an £8 million bid from Chelsea, which the club swiftly turned down. Manager Régis Le Bris made it clear during a press conference after Sunderland's 4-2 friendly loss to Liverpool that the matter is settled. He stated, "No, this topic is closed. He has been really clear about his future. He loves Sunderland, he wants to stay in Sunderland. He wants to make the future of Sunderland. He is a good captain. Great leader." Xhaka played a pivotal role in Sunderland’s recent success, contributing to their European qualification and showcasing his experience in midfield. Although Chelsea’s interest is understandable given Xhaka's familiarity with Alonso's tactical approach, Sunderland remains under no financial obligation to sell their captain. Considering the situation, Chelsea should pivot away from pursuing Xhaka. As he enters the later stages of his career, Sunderland would likely demand a much higher fee to even consider negotiations. Instead, Chelsea would benefit from targeting a younger midfielder who can provide similar leadership qualities while fitting into Alonso’s long-term vision.
Source: CaughtOffside - 2026-07-28