Granit Xhaka shuts down Chelsea move rumors as Sunderland departure looms

Granit Xhaka has chosen discretion at a time when transfer rumors are growing in the middle of the World Cup. According to talkSPORT, Chelsea submitted an opening bid of £8 million for the Swiss captain, which was immediately rejected by Sunderland. The message is clear: Sunderland do not want to sell and do not appear under pressure to do so.

Asked about a possible move to Chelsea, Xhaka took the stance expected of an experienced captain: “It’s not my job [to talk about a possible transfer to Chelsea]. » Then he added: “I have my direction for that. I want to concentrate fully on the World Cup. » This is not avoidance, but professionalism, while Switzerland had an important meeting against Algeria.

The Swiss fulfilled their mission perfectly by winning 2-0: Xhaka played the entire match, and Breel Embolo as well as Nottingham Forest striker Dan Ndoye were responsible for the goals. This victory qualifies Switzerland for the next round and constitutes their first success in the knockout phase since 1938.

For their part, Chelsea see Xhaka as a familiar solution. Xabi Alonso knows the midfielder well, which was central to Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten campaign for the Bundesliga title in 2024. The relationship between coach and player naturally fuels speculation: Xhaka had previously said of Alonso: "It's a dream for me to play under Xabi Alonso. He was a world-class player in the same position as me – I played against him myself. » He also emphasized: “He gives me things that I can take back. We have a great team, a great coach and a great mentality. We work hard every day and we see the results on the ground. »

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The delicate point remains the auction. Describing an offer of £8m as “unacceptable”, Sunderland have clearly set their price. Xhaka, who arrived last summer, brought to his team the authority, control and calm that newly promoted clubs often lack: he made 34 league appearances, quickly assumed the leadership role and helped propel Sunderland to a seventh-place finish synonymous with Europe. For a club in full consolidation in the first division, a profile like his is not easy to replace.

At 33, Xhaka may not have the resale potential of a young phenomenon, but his value for sporting balance and locker room stability goes beyond the purely financial aspect. Chelsea, according to the same report, are also keen on Alex Scott and Adam Wharton, suggesting the London club are exploring multiple options rather than focusing on just one track. Scott would attract the attention of Arsenal and Manchester United, and his market could quickly catch fire.

Another element to consider in the Chelsea puzzle is Enzo Fernández. The prospect of a new reinforcement could have cleared the way for the Argentinian to leave for Real Madrid, but this scenario now seems improbable after the Spanish declaration according to which the club “does not intend” to recruit the Argentinian. This data could lead Chelsea to review the urgency or target of its recruitment.

For now, the facts remain simple: Chelsea are interested, Sunderland are resisting, and Xhaka is showing the right attitude by repeating that he wants to concentrate on the World Cup. From Sunderland's point of view, the frustration is understandable: every time a player raises the club's level, more powerful clubs come sniffing around looking for bargains. Offering £8m for a player who helped bring the club back to Europe after the season they just had is not serious; it is often a test offer to gauge the club's response.

Xhaka managed the situation with professionalism. Now, Sunderland must do the same: close the door unless there is a very substantial offer. Any sale at a low price would send the wrong signal to supporters and compromise the ambition displayed after a ramp-up towards Europe.