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According to Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland have reached the final stage of talks with Bayer Leverkusen to sign their Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka. The contract until 2027 will carry the transfer fee of more than £17 million. The Premier League newcomers increased their overall offer by £7 million to finalize the deal, and Xhaka has now been granted permission to travel to the UK for a medical. Last season, Xhaka featured in 33 Bundesliga matches, contributing two goals and seven assists. Before his stint with Leverkusen, he made 297 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 23 goals and providing 26 assists.
Although Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag has expressed his desire to retain Xhaka, the midfielder seems eager to return to the Premier League, where he'll face his former club, Arsenal, when Sunderland meet in early November. With his departure looming, Leverkusen will now have to search the transfer market for a suitable replacement task that could prove difficult given the limited options and the rapidly approaching start of the season.
We won't let go of any more players: Erik Ten Hag said on Granit Xhaka's departure
While speaking to Sky Sports last week, former Man United boss Erik ten Hag said that the club isn't ready to depart Xhaka, especially after Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong's moves to Liverpool and Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich. "This club has already sold three important players," the former Man Utd boss said. "We won't let go of any more players; that's not possible. That would neglect the structure and culture of the squad," he added.
Once Xhaka leaves the club, Ten Hag will need to work on rearranging the team. The team had hoped the midfielder, one of the squad’s key players, would remain and continue his journey with the German side. Now, with limited options and time, Rolfes faces the tough task of finding a suitable replacement for Xhaka in the transfer market.
Sunderland, under manager Regis Le Bris, have already invested £107 million this summer on six new additions after getting the promotion to the Premier League, with an aim to stay clear of relegation first and foremost.
