Chelsea make first bid for Granit Xhaka to reunite with Xabi Alonso, turned down by Sunderland
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.
Read the full story at transfermarkt.comXhaka 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.
Context added by Socc360, not by transfermarkt.com.
Data source: transfermarkt.com (via Socc360). Last updated .
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