Schmeichel Backs United to Raid Sunderland for Xhaka in Summer Overhaul

Peter Schmeichel believes Manchester United should move for Granit Xhaka this summer, with the legendary goalkeeper arguing that INEOS ought to bring the Sunderland midfielder to Old Trafford.

The 33-year-old Swiss midfielder departed Arsenal in the summer of 2023 after Mikel Arteta sanctioned his sale to Bayer Leverkusen for £21.4 million. Xhaka's spell at the Emirates proved decidedly mixed—he lost the captaincy following a falling-out with supporters in 2019, though he eventually restored that relationship. The Gunners have since moved forward, recruiting Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi among others, while Xhaka helped Bayer secure the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double during 2023/24.

Xhaka returned to English football last summer when he joined Sunderland, and has flourished on Wearside. The Black Cats have flourished alongside him, remaining well clear of the relegation battle and pushing towards a potential top-half finish.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Schmeichel made a compelling case for United's pursuit: "I think we should go and sign Xhaka. What we're going to do is build the team around Kobbie. Casemiro is leaving. Now you bring in somebody like Wharton, Anderson—that's still young, that's still untried. What we need and what we don't really have apart from Harry and Bruno in that team is proper leadership."

He continued: "When I look at what Xhaka's done for Sunderland, Xhaka is the reason they are where they are. He's been absolutely amazing. His leadership qualities are great, he can play 80 per cent of the games, he's a really good player. We're desperate for more leadership."

Nicky Butt, Schmeichel's former Old Trafford teammate, echoed the sentiment, suggesting: "Xhaka would come in and say he's not playing every game, but he would bring a lot to the squad."

United, having secured Champions League qualification under interim manager Michael Carrick, are targeting at least two new midfielders during the summer window.

Former Sunderland midfielder Tommy Miller recently lauded the club's acquisition of Xhaka. Speaking to The Sunderland Echo on May 2, Miller observed: "He's been outstanding. As soon as Regis Le Bris got him through the door, you knew they were going to have a right go. He let players go that did well during the Championship season and got them promoted—but time doesn't wait for anybody and he realised the Premier League provided a massive jump in class. As soon as you get a player of Granit Xhaka's quality and calibre through the door, it's easy for other players to follow."

Xhaka won the FA Cup twice during his time at Arsenal before his departure.