Chelsea have submitted a €30 million offer for Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka following a direct request from newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso, according to journalist Luca Cerchione. Alonso is set to begin his tenure with the Blues when pre-season commences next month, and has been given the title of manager to signify increased control over the club’s operations.
Chelsea are reportedly shifting their transfer strategy under Alonso, aiming to incorporate more experienced players alongside the pre-agreed signings of young talents like 21-year-old full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta, and potentially Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. The club has identified centre-back and full-back positions as priorities this summer, and are now turning their attention to midfield reinforcements.
Alonso is known to be keen on reuniting with Xhaka, having previously managed the 33-year-old during their successful, unbeaten 2023/24 campaign at Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka experienced a career resurgence after a €15 million move to Sunderland last summer, following a period where his form appeared to decline in his final season with Leverkusen.
Should Chelsea’s bid be accepted, Sunderland would make a €15 million profit on the player. However, Cerchione’s report has yet to be corroborated by other major news outlets, leading to some skepticism about the likelihood of the transfer. Chelsea are also reportedly considering Valentin Barco from Strasbourg as a potential replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who is subject of interest from Real Madrid. The potential acquisition of Xhaka would further strengthen Chelsea’s midfield options as they prepare for the upcoming season.
