Chelsea is actively pursuing a summer transfer for Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka, following an insistence from newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso.
The Wearside club rejected an initial £8 million bid on July 1, 2026.
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The London club remains hopeful of securing the 33-year-old Switzerland international. Xhaka previously excelled under Alonso during Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga campaign before moving to Sunderland.
Mixed Fan Reactions
Sunderland supporters expressed mixed reactions to the transfer pursuit through public forums on BBC and Roker Report.
Many demanded a significantly higher valuation if the midfielder departs before the upcoming season.
Xhaka served as a vital asset for Sunderland last season.
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He registered four assists from set pieces and recorded six passes that broke three or more opposition lines, more than any other Premier League central midfielder.
Simon Rolfes, Sporting Director of Bayer Leverkusen, previously explained the club's decision to sign Xhaka from Arsenal in 2023.
He stated the move was to "rewire dressing room dynamics."
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The potential acquisition would mark a major shift from the recruitment strategy of Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo. The group has primarily focused on signing players under the age of 25 over the last four years.
