Sunderland are close to agreeing a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the signing of Granit Xhaka, who is keen to join the club. The two clubs are in advanced talks over a deal for the former Arsenal captain.
Xhaka has agreed personal terms with Sunderland on a three-year contract and his agent Jose Noguera has told Sky in Germany that his client wants to join the newly promoted Premier League club. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Sunderland news & transfersSky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next seasonNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺Weve reached an agreement in principle with Sunderland, said Xhakas agent.
Granit wants to return to the Premier League. Sunderland excites him – he wants to take on this challenge. We hope Leverkusen will respect his wish to leave and that the clubs will find an agreement soon.
However, speaking in Brazil on Tuesday during Bayer Leverkusens pre-season tour, head coach Erik ten Hag said that the club wont sell any more players. Ten Hag said: The agent can say anything, but this club has already sold three important players.
We wont let go of any more players; thats not possible. That would neglect the structure and culture of the squad. Clearly, Granit is a leader. He signed for five years and has three years left on his contract.
Hes too important for us to let go. Simon Rolfes, Leverkusens sporting managing director, added: Ive always said that Granit is an important leader. The coach and I have a very similar perspective. Sunderland have already spent £107m so far this summer on six new signings.
Analysis: Metronome Xhaka could transform Sunderlands survival hopesSky Sports Sam Blitz: For the promoted clubs, bringing in Premier League quality will be crucial to their survival. Sunderland signing Brighton winger Simon Adingra is a start, but Granit Xhaka would be a stratospheric signing.
The Switzerland international had a mixed career at Arsenal but one key theme stood out – managers kept picking him. Arsene Wenger and Mikel Arteta kept him as a key member of the team despite his countless red cards, with the current Arsenal manager even bringing him back from the cold after a major falling out with the clubs supporters, which led to his captaincy being taken away by Unai Emery.
Its because – despite the controversy Xhaka can bring – he is the metronome in every team he plays for. His stability was vital to Bayer Leverkusen winning the league and cup double in his first season, while even last term – a more disappointing campaign in comparison – saw Xhaka show his worth.
Only Joshua Kimmich managed more passes in open play and final-third balls than Xhaka last term, while his pass accuracy of 90 per cent showed his reliability in possession. Of course, Xhaka playing for a relegation-threatened Sunderland side will contrast very differently to the possession-heavy spells at Arsenal and Leverkusen.
But he was Arsenal captain and part of Leverkusens leadership group. If a deal gets completed, this is a signing that will give the Black Cats a huge survival boost. Sunderland transfersIn Simon Adingra – Brighton, £20.
5m Habib Diarra – Strasbourg, £30m Enzo Le Fee – Roma, £20m Noah Sadiki – Union Saint-Gilloise, £17.5m Reinildo Mandava – Atletico Madrid, free Chemsdine Talbi – Club Brugge, £19m Out Tommy Watson – Brighton, £10m Jobe Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund, £32m Nathan Bishop – AFC Wimbledon, undisclosed Adil Aouchiche – Aberdeen, loan Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from next season From next season, Sky Sports Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
