Sunderland are standing firm over the future of captain Granit Xhaka, insisting the Switzerland midfielder will not be sold this summer despite Chelsea’s growing interest.
Chelsea had an £8m bid for the 33-year-old rejected by Sunderland last week, with the Blues widely expected to return with an improved offer for the former Arsenal man.
However, sources at Sunderland have told BBC Sport that Xhaka is not for sale, and the club has no intention of entertaining further approaches from Stamford Bridge.
Following internal discussions, Xhaka has reaffirmed his commitment to the Black Cats, strengthening the club’s position ahead of what could be a busy summer window.
The midfielder’s contract at Sunderland runs until 2028, giving the club considerable leverage in any negotiations should Chelsea push ahead with a second bid.
Xhaka was attracted by the prospect of reuniting with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, under whom he thrived during their time together at Bayer Leverkusen.
Despite Sunderland’s stance, sources at Chelsea maintain that the player himself is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, leaving the situation far from fully resolved.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will submit a further bid, with the two clubs clearly some distance apart in their respective positions on the transfer.
Xhaka was a key figure as Sunderland qualified for Europe for the first time in 53 years last season, making 34 Premier League appearances as the Black Cats finished seventh to qualify for the Conference League.
The Switzerland captain spent seven years at Arsenal, making 297 appearances, before joining Leverkusen in 2023 where he helped the German club win their first Bundesliga title under Alonso.
Xhaka is currently representing his country at the World Cup, hosted across the US, Mexico and Canada, having played every game in Switzerland’s run to the last 16.
His performances on the international stage have only served to heighten interest in his services, adding further complexity to a transfer saga that shows little sign of a quick resolution.
