Alonso's Xhaka Mission: Chelsea Ready €30m Bid for Sunderland's Midfield Lynchpin

Chelsea are gearing up to pursue Granit Xhaka this summer, with newly-appointed boss Xabi Alonso reportedly having made a direct appeal to BlueCo to secure the Sunderland midfielder's signature.

Alonso, who takes the Chelsea reins officially on July 1, previously managed Xhaka during their triumphant spell together at Bayer Leverkusen. The pair lifted the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal during the 2023/24 season, whilst also reaching the Europa League final that same campaign.

The Swiss midfielder arrived at Sunderland from the German outfit in summer 2025, completing his move for £17.3million. He's since become one of the Premier League's standout performers, proving instrumental in the Black Cats' impressive seventh-place finish and earning them a place in next season's Europa League.

Across 32 league starts and two substitute appearances last term, the 33-year-old contributed a goal and six assists—a testament to his enduring quality and influence from the engine room. Currently competing for Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup, Xhaka remains contracted to Sunderland until 2028, yet Chelsea appear determined to prise him away from the Stadium of Light.

According to Italian journalist Luca Cerchione, Alonso has personally lobbied Chelsea to make the move happen. Cerchione, citing his sources, reported that the Blues are preparing an initial bid of €30million (approximately £26m) for the veteran midfielder.

Xhaka's availability has already attracted attention elsewhere. Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel publicly advocated for the Red Devils to pursue him in May, arguing on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast that the club desperately requires his leadership qualities and consistency. Schmeichel highlighted Xhaka's pivotal role in Sunderland's success, suggesting his presence would provide the kind of established presence United's younger midfield options currently lack. Fellow pundit Nicky Butt acknowledged Xhaka's value, noting that whilst the midfielder wouldn't play every fixture, he'd bring considerable depth to any squad.