Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka is expected to remain at the Stadium of Light this summer after reaffirming his commitment to the club despite strong interest from Chelsea.
The Switzerland international had emerged as a target for the Blues, with manager Xabi Alonso eager to reunite with the midfielder after the pair previously worked together at Bayer Leverkusen.
Chelsea tested Sunderland’s resolve with an £8 million offer last week, but the bid was swiftly rejected. The London club had been expected to return with an improved proposal, believing Xhaka was interested in making the move to Stamford Bridge.
However, according to Softfootball, Sunderland have made it clear that the 33-year-old is not for sale. Following internal discussions with the club, Xhaka has also reaffirmed his commitment to the Black Cats ahead of the new season.
Chelsea have not completely abandoned their pursuit, with sources close to the club maintaining that the former Arsenal midfielder would still welcome the opportunity to work under Alonso again. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether the Blues will submit another offer after Sunderland’s firm stance.
For now, Sunderland remain determined to build their project around their captain, while Chelsea must decide whether to reignite negotiations or turn their attention to alternative midfield targets before the transfer window closes.
