Sunderland have reportedly made an ambitious move to bring Granit Xhaka back to the Premier League, with the club making their first bid for the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder.
The 32-year-old Swiss international, who spent seven years at Arsenal before moving to Germany in 2023, is currently valued at £17m by his club, but Sunderland’s interest hinges on whether the club can lower that fee further.
Keith Downie of Sky Sports News confirmed that Sunderland are seriously pursuing the midfielder, with the club eager to secure a deal for the influential figure to help them with their return to the Premier League.
However, Bayer Leverkusen are keen to retain the midfielder, who has three years left on his contract, making negotiations difficult.
The Black Cats’ interest is not without competition. Fabrizio Romano has reported that NEOM, a Saudi Pro League side, has also made a significant bid for Xhaka, along with a “huge proposal” to bring him to the Middle East.
Negotiations are said to be ongoing, and NEOM, who already signed Alexandre Lacazette, another former Arsenal player, as part of their squad, could provide stiff competition for Sunderland in the race for Xhaka.
Despite Sunderland’s ambition, the player’s future remains uncertain. With Leverkusen reportedly reluctantly willing to let Xhaka leave this summer for the right fee, the opportunity to secure the midfielder could still be within Sunderland’s grasp.
The club’s bid is said to include a three-year contract, as well as a €10m offer (approx. €64kpw).
Xhaka, who made 297 appearances for Arsenal, leaving a lasting legacy, would be an unexpected but highly significant addition to Sunderland’s midfield.
His experience in both the Premier League and Bundesliga would be crucial as Sunderland look to establish themselves back in the top flight.
The player’s time at Arsenal was not without controversy, but by the end of his tenure, he had earned widespread respect for his contributions, particularly during the 2022/23 season.
As Sunderland prepare for what they hope will be a successful Premier League return, their pursuit of Xhaka highlights their growing ambition to build a squad capable of making an immediate impact.
Whether they can overcome competition from NEOM and Leverkusen‘s demands to seal the deal remains to be seen, but this is one to watch closely in the coming weeks.
Sunderland have already signed Habib Diarra (€31.5m), Simon Adingra (€24.4m), Enzo Le Fee (€23m), Chemsdine Talbi (€20m) and Noah Sadiki (€17m), with Armand Lauriente (€17m) also expected to join.