Xabi Alonso pushing Chelsea to sign Granit Xhaka | OneFootball

Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka has agreed to join Chelsea, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Xhaka has agreed personal terms, and Chelsea are now in talks with Sunderland over a transfer fee.

Manager Xabi Alonso is pushing hard for Xhaka, given their previous working relationship at Bayer Leverkusen.

The Switzerland captain played a pivotal role under Alonso when Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season, earning a place in the Team of the Season.

Xhaka could become Chelsea’s second summer signing, following Marco Palestra’s move from Atalanta. The latter’s announcement is imminent.

Xhaka would be a good signing for Chelsea

Chelsea are aiming to sign experienced players in the current transfer window, and a move for Xhaka would reinforce that strategy.

The 33-year-old has been playing at the top level of European football since 2012, when he joined Borussia Monchengladbach.

Xhaka has shown no signs of slowing down. He helped Sunderland qualify for the Europa League at Chelsea’s expense last season.

He registered the most assists (six) for the Black Cats in the Premier League, and only two players surpassed his seven goal involvements.

Xhaka also ranked second for big chances created (nine) and key passes per game. He was first for accurate passes and long balls per game.

The Swiss midfielder also ranked highly for defensive contributions, underlining his all-round quality.

Xhaka is likely to play in a pivot with Moises Caicedo if he joins Chelsea. The former Arsenal star offers greater ball progression, potentially making him an ideal partner for Caicedo.

Stats from sofascore.com