How much will Chelsea now offer for Granit Xhaka after ‘rejecting’ the first bid
Chelsea are preparing to test Sunderland’s resolve after seeing their bid for Granit Xhaka turned down.
The Blues made an initial bid worth around £8 million for the experienced midfielder earlier this week, but Sunderland quickly rejected the offer.
According to the Daily Mail, the Premier League are looking at Chelsea’s first offer and under their assessment even ‘insult’, with figures inside the Stadium of Light reportedly considering the bid insult given Xhaka’s importance to the side.
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That response did not discourage Chelsea from continuing their pursuit.
How much are Chelsea now planning to bid for Granit Xhaka
According to CaughtOffside, the London club are ready to come back with an improved proposal as they try to strike a deal with Sunderland.
Chelsea are understood to value Xhaka’s leadership and experience as they continue to add proven quality to a young squad, and new manager Xabi Alonso is ‘determined’ to add the 33-year-old to his ranks.
“Yes, Chelsea will ask for Xhaka again,” the source told CaughtOffside reporter Mark Brus.
“Xabi Alonso is willing to work with him again. Sunderland rejected £8m, but there will be a new offer of around £10m.”
The Swiss international enjoyed an impressive campaign in the center of Sunderland’s midfield last season.
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Football FanCast verdict |
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Honesty |
Mark Brus is an experienced broadcast journalist and editor of CaughtOffside, a site that regularly releases specials and collaborates with respected journalists including Fabrizio Romano, Christian Falk and Alfredo Pedullà. However, CaughtOffside specials are better treated as reliable emerging reports than confirmed developments until they are supported by more high-quality sources. |
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Finance |
Xhaka’s £10 million move will pale in comparison to Chelsea’s reported £45m-plus investment in Marco Palestra and their pursuit of Pep Chavarría. The transfer fee itself is less likely to present a problem. The biggest consideration is wages, although Chelsea’s financial situation means the overall package remains very affordable. The better question is whether Sunderland will appreciate the offer. |
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Understanding |
Granit Xhaka began his senior career at Basel before playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach and Arsenal, where he won two FA Cups and became captain. Under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, he became the mainstay of the club’s historic Bundesliga title triumph, showing his leadership, range of passing and tactical acumen – leaving it unsurprising that he wanted to meet in west London. |
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Impact |
Xhaka will bring leadership, control and big game experience to the Chelsea midfielder. His ability to decide to play the ball, organize his teammates and finish off attacks will resonate with the club’s younger players, while his previous success under Xabi Alonso means he already understands the tactical demands and discipline expected of the manager’s system. |
His arrival changed the balance of the side, providing calm in possession, defensive organization and vital leadership during a memorable campaign that saw Sunderland qualify for the Europa League.
What Granit Xhaka will bring to Chelsea
Operating as a deep-lying midfielder, Xhaka dictated the tempo of games with his array of passes while shielding Sunderland’s defense with smart positioning and a relentless work rate.
His impact goes beyond statistics, with his experience helping many of Sunderland’s younger players develop throughout the season.
Having already enjoyed successful spells with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen before moving to Sunderland, Xhaka arrived with over a decade of experience at the highest level.
He also won nearly 150 caps for Switzerland, captained his country many times and became one of the most decorated international footballers.
Those qualities are exactly what keep Chelsea determined despite Sunderland’s strong stance.
The Blues have invested heavily in young talent in recent transfer windows, but there is a need to add experienced players who can lead that team through difficult times.
Xhaka fits that profile perfectly.
Whether Sunderland soften their position remains to be seen, given their not-for-sale status, but Chelsea’s willingness to improve their offer suggests they are keen to keep talks alive.
It is reported that Xhaka has verbally agreed to join Chelsea if they can reach an agreement with the Black Cats.
However, that one kilometer is their biggest obstacle.
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