Xhaka won't be going to Chelsea

Xabi Alonso and Granit Xhaka enjoyed an excellent partnership at Bayer Leverkusen, so it came as no surprise that the Basque coach wanted to reunite with the Swiss midfielder. After taking charge of Chelsea, Alonso personally contacted Xhaka and tried to convince him to move to Stamford Bridge. He succeeded in reaching an agreement with the player—but Sunderland ultimately blocked the deal. Granit Xhaka isn't going anywhere. Sunderland have made it clear that they have no intention of selling their captain. Their message to Chelsea—and to every other interested club—was short and unequivocal: hands off. Chelsea had no difficulty agreeing personal terms with the Swiss international. That part of the negotiations was never an issue. But Sunderland held talks with the player and apparently changed his mind. The London club submitted a 9.5 million euros offer, which Sunderland rejected without hesitation. According to Sky Sports, the response was a firm no, accompanied by the insistence that Xhaka is not for sale.

Former Arsenal captain to join Chelsea

Chelsea made their approach last week, and Sunderland's hierarchy already knew what their answer would be. However, they still held discussions with Xhaka before making their final decision. Those talks were reportedly constructive. Although the midfielder was open to reuniting with Xabi Alonso at Chelsea, he did not cause any problems or attempt to force a move. The opportunity to lead Sunderland in the Europa League next season, together with the club's long-term ambition and trajectory, were understood to be decisive factors in his decision to stay after all. At Sunderland, Xhaka is regarded as the team's leader, the cornerstone of the dressing room, and a player who will be crucial as the club prepares for next season's UEFA Europa League campaign. Sunderland paid 15 million euros to sign Xhaka last June. In his first season, he made 36 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing six assists. Beyond the statistics, however, he established himself as the emotional and tactical leader of the squad. The Swiss international still has two years remaining on his contract, and as things stand, he is expected to see it through.