Chelsea are showing interest in signing Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Sunderland say there has been no club-to-club contact and that they would not welcome any offers, as the midfielder is not for sale.
However, the Swiss international, who played for Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, is one of the midfield options Chelsea are assessing as they want to add players with proven Premier League experience.
Xhaka, who played for Arsenal between 2016 and 2023, turns 34 in September so Chelsea would not want to pay too much. He is under contract at the Stadium of Light until 2028 but is understood to be keen on linking up again with Alonso and being part of a new project.
Granit Xhaka was a hit for Sunderland last season after returning to the Premier League
Xhaka worked with new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso while at Bayer Leverkusen
Sunderland signed him for £13million last summer and he played a key part in keeping the club in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s latest signing Marco Palestra, meanwhile, is having his medical today ahead of his £50m move from Atalanta.
Como and Inter Milan remain interested in Trevoh Chalobah and Chelsea are maintaining contact over Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.
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