Granit Xhaka, Sunderland and Chelsea, what next and what it means for the Black Cats | OneFootball

Sunderland have rejected an initial bid from Chelsea for Granit Xhaka. According to Sunderland Echo, Xhaka is keen on the move and the saga has some way to run.

The situation likely hinges on Chelsea meeting Sunderland's valuation and the club lining up a trusted replacement. With two years left on his deal, Sunderland have leverage and no obligation to accept terms that do not suit them.

There is scepticism that Xhaka will be in red and white on opening day. While he is central as captain and leader, keeping an unhappy player could hurt morale, so a strong bid might be preferable to a drawn-out stand-off. The sense is that Chelsea must get serious if they want him.

Early offers have been dismissed as far too low. A figure of eight million was described as laughable, with around 15 million seen as a baseline and 20 million the point at which Chelsea would be taken seriously. With survival and a good Europa League run worth well over 100 million, any offer must reflect Xhaka's importance.

Losing him early in the window would be a blow and could dent confidence, though Sunderland have improved after big sales before. This is not a one-man team and players such as Brian Brobbey could step up, yet starting without their best player would likely put them on the back foot. Much still depends on how the rest of the window unfolds.

Source: Sunderland Echo