Chelsea are preparing to return with an improved offer for Granit Xhaka after Sunderland rejected their opening £8 million bid for the experienced midfielder. Reports indicate the Blues remain determined to reunite the Switzerland captain with new head coach Xabi Alonso despite the Black Cats’ firm stance.
The initial proposal was swiftly dismissed by Sunderland, who are under no financial pressure to sell one of their most influential players. Club officials reportedly viewed the bid as well below Xhaka’s value after his outstanding debut season at the Stadium of Light.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea are already planning what he described as a “new attack” for the 33-year-old, with negotiations expected to continue between the two clubs in the coming days.
Chelsea’s pursuit has been driven largely by Alonso, who worked successfully with Xhaka during their time together at Bayer Leverkusen. The Spaniard is believed to see the veteran midfielder as an ideal leader capable of bringing experience, composure and tactical intelligence to one of the Premier League’s youngest squads.
Personal terms are not expected to be an obstacle. Multiple reports claim Xhaka has already reached a verbal agreement with Chelsea and is eager to return to London to work under Alonso once again. However, the midfielder is also understood to remain respectful of Sunderland’s position and is not expected to force an immediate exit.
While Chelsea remain optimistic, convincing Sunderland to sell could prove significantly more difficult.
The Black Cats signed Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen last summer for an initial £13 million, with performance-related add-ons taking the package to around £17 million. He immediately transformed the side, captaining Sunderland to a seventh-place Premier League finish and Europa League qualification in one of the club’s best seasons in decades.
Sunderland have repeatedly stressed that they do not want to lose their captain and have publicly maintained he is not for sale. Despite Chelsea’s continued interest, the club’s hierarchy believe Xhaka remains central to their long-term plans following qualification for European competition.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are seeking greater balance in midfield amid uncertainty surrounding Enzo Fernandez, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid. Alonso is believed to value Xhaka’s leadership as much as his footballing ability, viewing him as someone capable of guiding the club’s emerging generation of talent.
Romano has also suggested Chelsea are unwilling to overpay because of Xhaka’s age. Although the club highly rates the midfielder, their expectation is to reach an agreement for considerably less than the figures initially suggested in media reports. The next round of talks is therefore expected to focus on finding a compromise that satisfies both clubs.
For now, the transfer remains finely balanced. Chelsea have secured the player’s approval and Alonso is pushing hard for a reunion, but Sunderland’s refusal to soften their stance means the Blues will need a significantly improved offer if they are to land one of their top midfield targets this summer.
