Chelsea are exploring the prospect of signing Granit Xhaka from Sunderland this summer, talkSPORT understands.
New Blues boss Xabi Alonso worked with Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen, with the pair achieving an unbeaten title-winning season in 2024.
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The Swiss midfielder starred in Alonso’s Bundesliga success before asking to return to the Premier League when he left.
And now, the two could combine again at Stamford Bridge, with Xhaka keen on the move and linking up with his old boss.
He played a major part in leading Sunderland to European football in their first year back in the top-flight since 2017.
He played 34 league games for the Black Cats after joining the club last summer, instantly making a huge impact on and off the pitch as they remarkably went on to finish seventh.
But after just a year at the club, the ex-Arsenal star could now be on the move, joining his former London rivals, Chelsea – which is something that Cole Palmer likes the idea of, as he was spotted liking a post as the news of the Blues’ interest spread.
It’s understood, however, that Sunderland want to keep him and they are not under any pressure to sell him.
Chelsea value Xhaka at far less than some of the numbers suggested, given he is 33 and has two years left on his contract.
The Blues won’t pay above the odds and have other midfield targets as well. Alex Scott and Adam Wharton are both appreciated.
Another midfield signing could also lead to Enzo Fernández getting his move to Real Madrid that he has desired.
Although the club will not let Fernandez go for less than his £120m asking price.
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A ‘dream’ reunion
Xhaka has spoken openly about his joy of playing under Alonso, admitting his admiration soon after joining Leverkusen.
After signing for the German side, he said: “He was a role model for every young player and still is today.
“He has a great personality and has had a great career. When I first had him on the phone, it was special for me.”
And speaking a couple of months into his spell at Leverkusen, he admitted: “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 gives me things that I can take. We have a great team, a great coach and a great mentality. We work hard daily and you can see the results on the ground.”
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Xhaka could be joining a Chelsea squad that has been through plenty of dressing room issues in the last few months.
But Alonso may well be the man to fix that, with Xhaka praising him for his approach at the end of last year.
The 33-year-old said: “He had no experience on the big stage. What he did have was personality. When he walked into the dressing room and started talking, everyone was completely focused.
“Every word he said was true. He wasn’t fake. He was authentic. He only cares about what he sees on the pitch. If you train well, he’ll give you a chance.”
Xhaka is what Chelsea have lacked
Former Chelsea defender and talkSPORT host Jason Cundy has weighed in on the news of the Blues’ interest in Xhaka.
And he thinks that it would be a clever signing, saying: “He [Alonso] knows him, it’s someone we’ve needed.
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“But it’s just odd that we’ve gone for it now, it’s like we’ve gone from one extreme to the other. But we do need someone with an experienced head in the middle of the park.
“He’s not better than Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, but we have lacked a real head and voice in the dressing room.
“The relationship between Alonso and Xhaka, that’s it. He’s saying he’s my general, what he did for me to go and win the Bundesliga, that’s the reason why he’s coming in.
“Is he going to play every game? Probably not. Is he going to be an experienced head in there? I understand the thought process behind it.”