Chelsea target Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka for Alonso reunion
Chelsea have registered an interest in signing Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka as incoming manager Xabi Alonso seeks a reunion with the Swiss midfielder.
The west London club are evaluating a move for the 33-year-old, who is reportedly keen on a potential transfer to Stamford Bridge.
However, the Black Cats insist their skipper is not for sale and confirm no official club-to-club approach has yet been made.
Alonso drives push for veteran leadership
The transfer pursuit is being directly driven by new Blues boss Alonso, who officially begins his managerial role next week.
The Spaniard previously managed the veteran midfielder during Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning campaign in 2024.
Chelsea’s current valuation of the player is lower than recent speculation suggests, factoring in his age and his remaining two-year contract on Wearside.
A shift in Stamford Bridge strategy
A successful swoop for the former Arsenal star would represent a significant departure from Chelsea’s recent recruitment policy.
Since the BlueCo consortium’s takeover in 2022, the club has almost exclusively targeted young prospects rather than established veterans.
Internal discussions at Stamford Bridge throughout the recent campaign highlighted a pressing need for greater Premier League experience within the engine room.
Sunderland’s European success
The Switzerland international has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance since returning to English football.
His immense influence helped guide newly-promoted Sunderland to a highly impressive seventh-place league finish this season.
That unexpected position secured Europa League qualification for the North East outfit against all odds.
