Juventus step up interest in Sunderland star as January plans take shape | OneFootball

Juventus are once again showing strong interest in Granit Xhaka, with the Sunderland midfielder emerging as a priority target ahead of the January transfer window, according to Tuttosport.

The Bianconeri are determined to strengthen their midfield options, and the Switzerland international is viewed internally as an ideal candidate to bring both immediate quality and veteran leadership to the squad.

Juve had already explored the possibility of signing Xhaka during the summer, but negotiations stalled before an agreement could be reached.

The Serie A giants have now revived their pursuit after closely monitoring his performances since joining Sunderland, where the 33-year-old has become a central figure in the Black Cats’ unexpected rise up the Premier League table.

Juventus have closely followed Granit Xhaka

Juve are particularly drawn to Xhaka’s tactical intelligence, ball progression, and ability to dictate tempo

His experience, spanning Arsenal, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and the Swiss national team, remains highly valued at Juventus, who believe his personality and leadership could be crucial as they push for Champions League qualification and greater stability in the second half of the season.

Despite Juventus’ strong interest, a deal will not be straightforward. Sunderland view Xhaka as irreplaceable and a cornerstone of their ambitious project under manager Regis Le Bris.

The club are currently enjoying a remarkable campaign, sitting in European positions, and losing a player of Xhaka’s influence mid-season could disrupt their momentum.

Sunderland are not looking to sell the midfielder

Granit Xhaka of Sunderland (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Reports suggest that Sunderland would demand at least €15 million to even consider a sale, and even then, they would need assurances they can secure a high-calibre replacement.

Adding Xhaka would provide Juve with a seasoned professional capable of operating as a deep-lying playmaker or as a more advanced left-sided midfielder in Juve’s familiar 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 setups.

Whether Juventus can convince Sunderland to sell remains uncertain, but interest is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.