Sunderland Reject Opening Bid From Chelsea
Chelsea has agreed to personal terms with Granit Xhaka, but Sunderland has rejected the Blues' opening bid as Xabi Alonso pushes to reunite with his former midfielder.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea submitted an initial bid of £8m to sign Xhaka from Sunderland, but they rejected the bid immediately and informed Chelsea that they don’t wish to sell Xhaka in the summer at any cost.
Why Xabi Alonso Wants Xhaka
Chelsea valued £8 million for the player, considering the fact that he is turning 34 this year, but Sunderland doesn't want to lose the player as they are preparing for the Europa League next season. Xhaka joined Sunderland last summer from Bayer Leverkusen for £13 million, with an additional £4 million in add-ons, and helped the team to qualify for European competition by finishing in 7th position in the league immediately after getting promoted to the Premier League.
Xhaka has been one of the most critical players on the Sunderland side, with his ability to dictate the game from deep and energy to drive the ball forward to the attacking third with purpose. At the age of 33 he contributed 7 goal involvements for Sunderland from 34 league matches. Apart from the number, his leadership in the midfield was a huge positive for the team.
The Swiss midfielder already spent two years at Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso, and they both share an excellent relationship, which is the reason he became a priority for Xabi at Chelsea. Alonso knows the player really well and wants him to add more experience to the squad, especially in a context where Enzo is preparing for a move to Real Madrid.
Sunderland Stand Firm
However, Sunderland views the £8 million proposal from Chelsea as unacceptable and is planning not to entertain any other offers from Chelsea; Xhaka is still keen on Chelsea, as the player wants to reunite with Xabi Alonso.