Chelsea is reportedly preparing to submit a second offer for Sunderland's captain, Granit Xhaka, after their initial £8 million bid was rejected. The Stamford Bridge club viewed their first offer as fair, but Sunderland dismissed it, considering it "insulting" and stating the 33-year-old is not for sale.
Xhaka is understood to be keen on a reunion with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, with whom he achieved significant success at Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso's contract with Chelsea officially began on July 1.
Alonso and Xhaka were instrumental in Leverkusen's domestic double in the 2023-24 season, winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, and also reached the Europa League final. Sunderland signed Xhaka from Leverkusen last summer for a fee of £13 million plus £4 million in add-ons. As captain, he helped Sunderland secure European football in their first season back in the Premier League, and he is contracted until 2028.
Xhaka, who previously played for Arsenal and turns 34 in September, is currently with Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has announced its first summer signing: the £47 million acquisition of Marco Palestra from Atalanta. The 21-year-old Italian international, who was named Serie A's Defender of the Year for 2025-26 while on loan at Cagliari, is considered a "ready-made" player capable of challenging for a starting spot under Alonso.