Chelsea make first bid for Granit Xhaka to reunite with Xabi Alonso, turned down by Sunderland
Quick summary
Chelsea have submitted an opening bid for Granit Xhaka to reunite the midfielder with Xabi Alonso, but Sunderland have rejected the offer.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceChelsea reportedly have made a shock approach to sign Granit Xhaka as Xabi Alonso attempts to reunite with his former player. Reports emerged on Saturday suggesting the Blues had lodged a bid worth...
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What happened
Chelsea have made their first move to sign Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, with the aim of reuniting the experienced midfielder with Xabi Alonso. Sunderland have rejected the opening bid, signaling they intend to hold onto the player. The story is framed around the Alonso connection, suggesting tactical and managerial fit is a key driver behind Chelsea's interest. Further negotiations are expected as Chelsea likely return with an improved offer.
Chance analysis
Xhaka would bring leadership and passing range to Chelsea's midfield, an area where Alonso reportedly wants more control-oriented profiles. Sunderland's rejection indicates they value Xhaka highly, and Chelsea will likely need to raise their offer significantly. This transfer pursuit signals Chelsea's intent to reshape the squad around Alonso's preferred system, with Xhaka potentially serving as a midfield anchor.
Sunderland lose a key midfielder only if Chelsea improve their bid; Chelsea's midfield gets a experienced orchestrator if deal goes through.
If Chelsea sign Xhaka, expect improved midfield control and progressive passing; if they fail, Chelsea remain in the market for a deep-lying midfielder.