Sunderland has firmly stated that midfielder Granit Xhaka is not for sale, despite reports indicating that Chelsea has entered discussions with the player's representatives. The 33-year-old Swiss international is under contract with Sunderland until 2028 and played a pivotal role in the club's successful seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Xhaka's camp has reportedly been in contact with Chelsea, although the club has yet to confirm these discussions. The midfielder is believed to be open to a reunion with former manager Xabi Alonso, with whom he won the Bundesliga title at Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.
While personal terms between Chelsea and Xhaka have not yet been agreed upon, Sunderland's management has made it clear that they have no financial pressure to sell key players. The club is determined to retain Xhaka, who captained the team last season and missed only four league matches.
For Chelsea, pursuing Xhaka would represent a significant shift in their transfer strategy, as the club has focused on signing younger players in recent seasons. Notably, Chelsea has not fielded any players aged 30 or over during this period.
Concerns have been raised regarding the leadership within the squad, an area where Xhaka has received considerable praise for his contributions at Sunderland.
Additionally, Chelsea's interest in Xhaka comes amid ongoing speculation regarding the future of midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is rumored to be a target for Real Madrid. Although Chelsea values Fernandez at approximately £120 million, no formal approach has been made by the Spanish club as of yet.
In the meantime, Chelsea is also set to sign Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra, while several players, including Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, and Trevoh Chalobah, face uncertain futures at the club.
Defender Marc Cucurella has already made the move to Real Madrid, further complicating Chelsea's transfer landscape as they navigate a busy window.
