Chelsea Faces Internal Debate Over £25m Granit Xhaka Signing

A dispute has emerged within Chelsea regarding the potential acquisition of Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, with manager Xabi Alonso advocating strongly for the signing, while the club's owners, BlueCo, remain hesitant about the investment.

The initial indication of Chelsea's interest in Xhaka surfaced on June 27, when Italian journalist Luca Cerchione revealed on X that Alonso, who previously coached Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen, had made an explicit request for the midfielder.

Cerchione reported the Blues’ first offer at 30 million euros, but Sunderland rejected an £8 million bid for Xhaka, who joined them from Bayer Leverkusen for £17.5 million in the summer of 2025 and is regarded as a key player.

Despite Sunderland's reluctance to sell, Xhaka is reportedly eager to move to Chelsea to reunite with Alonso, with whom he won the Bundesliga title during the 2023/24 season.

On July 1, Fabrizio Romano told Time2Play that a year prior, Xhaka had aimed to transfer to Italy, being a top target for AC Milan’s 2025/2026 project, but that deal fell through, resulting in his move to Sunderland.

Romano added that Chelsea is now serious about signing Xhaka, who is pressing to return to London and work again under Alonso, with the club having submitted an initial proposal and planning to improve it shortly.

However, Cerchione highlighted on July 3 that Chelsea’s ownership and management are at odds over the deal. Alonso views Xhaka as vital to his plans, while BlueCo is reluctant to spend £25 million on a 33-year-old midfielder.

The journalist noted that Chelsea would not need to negotiate the valuation with Sunderland, as it is already known, but the decision rests on whether the club will comply with Alonso’s insistence on the purchase.

Granit Xhaka’s Position on Transfer Speculation

Currently representing Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup, Xhaka has declined to comment on transfer rumors, stating that discussions about his future are handled by his management and that his focus remains on the tournament.

Insights from Former Sunderland Striker Marco Gabbiadini

Marco Gabbiadini, speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, acknowledged that conversations about Xhaka’s future have taken place and that the player is interested in seizing opportunities if they arise.

Gabbiadini speculated that Xhaka’s motivation might extend beyond playing, possibly aiming to establish a coaching connection with Alonso in the future, given their existing relationship.

He also expressed disappointment from a Sunderland fan perspective, noting that while Xhaka claims to concentrate on the World Cup, it is unlikely that someone of his experience would be uninformed or excluded from discussions about his career.