Granit Xhaka has said very little, which is usually the sensible move when a transfer story starts gathering pace in the middle of a major tournament. According to talkSPORT, Chelsea have tested Sunderland’s resolve with an £8million opening bid for the Switzerland captain, only to be knocked back immediately.
The key point here is simple. Sunderland do not want to sell, and they are under no obvious pressure to do so. That matters more than Chelsea’s interest, more than the player’s history with Xabi Alonso, and more than the noise that always follows a proven midfielder in a market short on certainty.
Granit Xhaka keeps World Cup focus
Xhaka did exactly what an experienced international captain should do when asked about a possible move. He shut it down. “That’s not my job [to talk about a potential move to Chelsea].” He followed that with, “I have my management for that. I want to concentrate fully on the World Cup.”
That is not evasive, it is professional. Switzerland had a job to do against Algeria, and they did it cleanly in a 2-0 win. Xhaka played all 90 minutes, Breel Embolo and Nottingham Forest striker Dan Ndoye scored, and the Swiss moved into the next round with their first knockout win at the tournament since 1938. If there is a time to indulge transfer gossip, this is not it.
Chelsea, for their part, clearly see a familiar solution. Alonso knows Xhaka well from Bayer Leverkusen, where the midfielder was central to an unbeaten Bundesliga title success in 2024. Coaches trust players who understand their demands. That part makes sense. The valuation is where it starts getting awkward.
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Sunderland stance leaves Chelsea with a problem
Calling an £8million bid “unacceptable” tells you Sunderland’s position in plain language. They are not flirting with a sale, they are rejecting the premise of one. Xhaka arrived last summer and gave them exactly what promoted sides usually lack, authority, control and calm. He played 34…
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