Chelsea has submitted an £8 million bid for midfielder Granit Xhaka, who is currently with Sunderland.
Sunderland rejected the offer outright, describing the proposal as disrespectful and stating that no further offers would be considered.
At 34 years old, Xhaka would not be a high‑profile acquisition, but his experience and leadership could address a gap that has been evident at Chelsea in recent seasons.
Last season, Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League, missing out on European competition by a narrow margin.
The club began the campaign under Enzo Maresca, who was later replaced by Liam Rosenior; both managers have since been dismissed.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid player Xabi Alonso is set to assume the managerial role at the start of July.
