Chelsea are still pursuing a deal to sign Granit Xhaka from Sunderland after having an initial bid rejected – and if they do get him in, Chelsea may do something for the first time since 1988.
Reports emerged over the weekend that Chelsea are pursuing a deal to land the Switzerland star. The left-footed ace has just produced a wonderful season at Sunderland, helping guide them into Europe.
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Obviously, a move to sign Xhaka would see Xabi Alonso reunite with the former Arsenal midfielder after they combined to shine at Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka was a huge part of Leverkusen’s 2023-24 season.
An unbeaten domestic campaign in which Leverkusen won the league and reached the final of the Europa League. Sunderland signed him for £17m, which makes Chelsea’s initial £8m offer seem ridiculous.
Chelsea could give Granit Xhaka the Graham Roberts treatment
But Chelsea are planning to increase their offer, with Alonso requesting Xhaka and fans more than aware of how important a signing like Xhaka would be. He would add some much-needed leadership.
He would raise standards, and in turn, that would improve his teammates. Sunderland immediately gave him the captain’s armband, and Chelsea might be better off doing so too, if Xhaka does end up joining.
Reece James is Chelsea’s best player, but ultimately, the England star is often injured as proven by the World Cup. Enzo Fernandez is leaving, so appointing Xhaka as captain would actually make sense.
Whether Chelsea do sign him and make such a drastic move remains to be seen. If they were to do that, it would be the first time Chelsea make a new signing their captain since 1988 with Graham Roberts.
Interestingly, Xhaka was not Alonso’s captain at Leverkusen
Xhaka was instantly given the armband at the Stadium of Light, a move that can often prove risky, but in this case, he aligned himself with the club’s supporters. Under Alonso, Xhaka was never actually captain.
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Indeed, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was the club captain and often played. Leverkusen also had Jonathan Tah prior to his move to Bayern Munich. But Xhaka was praised for being Alonso’s on-pitch manager.
He won’t need the armband if he does join Chelsea to get his leadership and his standards across. If he is given the captaincy, there is no doubt Xhaka improves Chelsea, and Chelsea improve because of Xhaka.
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