Chelsea has submitted an official bid to sign Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, but the proposal was met with an instant rejection from the Premier League club. The bid, reportedly worth £8m, was deemed 'fair' by Chelsea, considering Xhaka's age and experience. However, Sunderland viewed the offer as a 'lack of respect' and made it clear that they would not entertain any further offers.
The potential signing of Xhaka, who turns 34 in September, could provide a much-needed level of experience and leadership at Chelsea, a club that has struggled in recent seasons. The Blues finished just 10th in the Premier League last term, two points behind newly-promoted Sunderland, and failed to qualify for any European competition.
Xhaka, who captained Arsenal during his seven-year spell at the Emirates Stadium, has experience playing in the Premier League and has also won the Bundesliga title with Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen. The midfielder, currently at the World Cup with Switzerland, played a key role in Sunderland's top-half finish last season and was praised by former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney as one of the signings of the season.
Chelsea's bid for Xhaka may seem like a low-key signing, but it could prove to be a shrewd move, especially with Alonso set to take over as manager from the start of July. The incoming boss will be looking to assemble a strong squad and Xhaka's experience and leadership could be a valuable addition.
