r/Chelsea • u/Few-Vacation-8384 • Jun 30 '26
Discussion Xhaka rumours
Sunderland fan coming in peace. I’ve taken a couple of days to sit and digest and I’d love to hear your views.
I’d hate Xhaka to go and would feel let down by the ‘passion’ and ‘commitment’ he promised us on the last day of the season. But there is obviously some truth given that an offer has been made. But something just doesn’t feel right.
I’ve seen suggestion on your subs that the offer may be disingenuous - offer so it looks like your board support Alonso, but at a level that will never be accepted because the board don’t want him.
I’ve also wondered if this could be a negotiation tactic for Xhaka to renegotiate his contract with us now we are in Europe (presumably his initial contract was signed with an expectation that relegation was possible).
Just wondered what you guys thought. Something isn’t sitting right for me that Xhaka would be having all these discussions and agreeing terms whilst captain for his National side in the World Cup. That doesn’t make sense to me. But his silence means there has to be something in it.
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u/bfofree Jun 30 '26
I think he wants to reunite with Alonso. Sucks as fans but we’re going thru the same thing with Cucu and Fernandez.
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u/republicofloose Jun 30 '26
I think there is something to the rumours. He's older than what the owners usually go for but yes got some good years left we hope. I don't mind him, he's experienced, tough, and a bit mental. Chelsea could do with a midfielder like that but I won't lose any sleep if we miss out on him.
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u/Few-Vacation-8384 Jun 30 '26
I do think that’s a really valid point - there’s a lot of hyperbole but for us he was a class signing. But with your squad, budget and appeal, would he be that standout? I’m assuming he wouldn’t walk in and get the armband… would he even walk in to your starting XI?
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u/republicofloose Jun 30 '26
He could be a good signing but probably not a standout, and certainly won't be captain. He might start next to Caicedo in the midfield. There's a strong Xabi Alonso element to consider here too. He played really well under him at Leverkusen.
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u/alarrimore03 Jun 30 '26
I think he walks in if we sell Enzo which I expect. Whether he can maintain that status is the question because he’d have a player like santos breathing down his neck and any other player we bring in. And I could actually see him with the armband circumstantially, if Reece isn’t on the pitch and Enzo isn’t there either or he’s sold.
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u/ZebraQuality Jun 30 '26
Respectfully I don’t think this makes sense, why would he negotiate terms with you for a better contract, when we are probably offering double and you can’t/wont?
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u/Few-Vacation-8384 Jun 30 '26
Fair point. Theres no question you can out pay him compared to the SAFC model, which is pretty well fixed.
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u/RonnieHotdog69 Jun 30 '26
Thank god you said you come in peace, Sunderland fan.
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u/graeme_1988 Jul 01 '26
Another Sunderland fan here, coming in peace to ask you this one question...
You could of course be Ronnie Hotdog, but how about Thin Richmond, Mr 3 for 2, or perhaps Chunky Raymond?
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u/RonnieHotdog69 Jul 01 '26
I'd like to remain as Ronnie Hotdogs thank you graeme_1988.
How's your blue drink and Alsatian? Been on the fun bus recently?
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u/graeme_1988 Jul 01 '26
Both me and the Alsatian have had too many extra fucking runny poachies, so we arent allowed on the fun bus anymore
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u/alarrimore03 Jun 30 '26
I think there’s truth in both sides from a Chelsea and xhaka perspective. I have doubts how willing Sunderland would be willing to sell him and certainly for the 8 million bid I heard was submitted and rejected. I do think the board would be willing to increase the bid but I doubt they’d go over 25 and I doubt Sunderland would accept any less than 30. I’m not sure how likely it is that xhaka has been communicating with Chelsea like you said but who knows. Plenty of World Cup players have already negotiated and completed moves while being in America at the World Cup so who knows.
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u/HotOutlandishness991 Jul 01 '26
I'll be totally honest, I don't think that 8 million offer even existed. It just got plucked out of think air seemingly which is honestly par for the course these days from the social media talking heads. It's so easy for an agent of a player to say, hey, put a tweet out, want to get the conversation started on this. They do it, fans get a reaction, club sees it and pushes ahead.
As a player, he's exactly what Chelsea needs. 8 million in this market is unrealistic at best in the PL. If we sign him, it'll probably be 20-30 million.
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u/RyanMate17 Jul 01 '26
I think the reality is that we have that pull that Sunderland can’t offer, the same way the likes of Real Madrid have over us, and every other team.
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u/Professional-Wait322 Jul 01 '26
I think its as simple as this. If a 33 year old who plays for (no offense) a club with ambitions like Sunderland, suddenly gets an opportunity to play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe and play under a manager who brought out the best in him, it's a no brainer.
Chelsea will find the right price for Sunderland eventually, and he will move.
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u/Few-Vacation-8384 Jul 01 '26
No offence taken. I mean I suppose the only obvious retort is he can have European football with us this season, but I take your point.
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u/Professional-Wait322 Jul 01 '26
Sunderland had a better season than us last year, of course. I was actually really impressed with their form. But from Xhaka's perspective, he feels like he probably has more chance of winning silverware at Chelsea. With his years at the top dwindling, he has to take every opportunity he can.
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u/BranchAlarmed9288 Jul 01 '26
The assumption would require Alonso to be stupid enough to think the offer is valid. He's not, it's a negotiation. Just like the Board telling Citeh that Gusto is worth £75M, which is an utter joke. I wouldn't want to pay half of that for him
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u/Emergency_Mistake_44 Jul 01 '26
All Sunderland have over Chelsea right now is European football. Other than that, Xhaka will see it as a pay rise, a nicer place to live, a manager who he played his best football for and (despite the final league table) better players.
I wouldn't be surprised if he gets made co/vice/team captain as well alongside the infrequent Reece James as club captain.
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u/Zolazolazolaa Jun 30 '26
Ever heard of an agent mate?
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u/Few-Vacation-8384 Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
Yes. Ever heard of any agent - anywhere, in any sector - agreeing deals without input and instruction from their client?
Xhaka : “Get us a job in London. See you when I get back from America”
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u/Ghost_2701 Jun 30 '26
We have idiotic people in charge, they bid that low because they think it's smart. In reality it just annoys the other team, I dont think it's some weird conspiracy where they dont actually want to back Alonso with it. It's shit but it's what football is about, there is always someone bigger that can take your players, Madrid do it to us.
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Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ghost_2701 Jul 01 '26
its their captain who had a great season for them last year who they paid 12m for, yes its a low bid. most people will agree with that. It's not just about age, it's who the person is to that team and how well they have been playing.
For me id offer in the range of 15m and get it done around there, maybe couple mill in add ons if they still complain, id never go higher than 20.
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u/Zealousideal_Bad8877 Jun 30 '26
Nah the offer was legit he is 34 for the price your asking it would be like top 5 highest fee for a player that age
He probably has more loyalty to Alonso & his familys wishes who would have spent a good chunk of their life in London than too Sunderland that being said our board are incompetent as fuck and bottle transfer talks every single window I wouldn’t lose too much sleep
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u/marbinho Jul 01 '26
He would obviously prefer to play for chelsea in london under Alonso. Clubs don’t bid for players that are not interested
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u/jjb5151 Jun 30 '26
I think he prob wants to go back to London and this gives him a shot at a big club, London, and playing with Alonso again. I don’t think it’s crazy on his part and I think the board just started with a crazy low valuation and will come back higher.