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According to the reports, Sunderland are looking forward to exploring moves to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka. If the deal reaches its final stages, Sunderland may succeed in bringing the 32-year-old Swiss international back to English football. Although Xhaka still has three years remaining on his contract with Leverkusen, he could depart the club earlier than expected. Sunderland is eager to sign the Bundesliga winner to strengthen their squad for a Premier League comeback. However, they face stiff competition from Saudi Arabian clubs apart from Fenerbahce, also keen on securing his signature.
The keen interest of Sunderland in bringing in Granit Xhaka to the club is his wealth of experience with 137 international caps for Switzerland, and he perfectly complements Regis Le Bris' youthful squad. He spent seven seasons at Arsenal after arriving from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016, winning two FA Cups and making 297 appearances. In 2023, he moved to Leverkusen and played a pivotal role in their Bundesliga title-winning campaign during his debut season. Last season, he featured in 49 matches, including all 10 of their Champions League fixtures, as the team secured a second-place finish in the Bundesliga.
With Granit Xhaka, Sunderland is looking to establish a strong foundation
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris believes that bringing in players like Granit Xhaka is key to striking the right balance between youth and experience within the squad. With his wealth of top-level experience, Xhaka is expected to play a crucial role in organizing the midfield, which is already shaping up well with the additions of Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki.
With close to 300 appearances for Arsenal and two FA Cup titles to his name, Xhaka’s Premier League credentials are firmly established. Sunderland sees him as a natural leader on the pitch and a valuable mentor for their rising stars. Earlier this summer, Sunderland sold Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund for £32 million, but have since reinvested strategically to strengthen their squad for Premier League survival. They’ve added attacking depth by signing winger Simon Adingra from Brighton for £20 million and Habib Diarra from Strasbourg in a £30 million move.
