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Granit Xhaka’s signing by Sunderland last summer turned out to be among the Premier League’s most inspired transfers.

The newly promoted Black Cats had spent £13 million to bring the Swiss international back to England from Bayer Leverkusen, with head coach Regis Le Bris swiftly naming the 33-year-old midfielder as team captain.

The move paid off almost immediately, as Xhaka became the heartbeat of Sunderland’s midfield. He missed only four Premier League fixtures throughout the campaign, leading Le Bris’ men to defy all odds by finishing seventh in the table — a remarkable achievement for a team tipped for relegation — and securing a spot in next season’s Europa League.

Earlier this month, Xhaka reflected on his impressive debut season at the Stadium of Light, telling Swiss outlet Blick before the World Cup that “it’s a bit like home for me.”

He added, “The city reminds me of Basel, particularly the St. Johann district where I grew up. You can only deliver your best when you feel truly comfortable in your surroundings.”

Now, reports suggest that Xhaka has agreed personal terms with Chelsea, with new Blues manager Xabi Alonso eager to reunite with his former midfield general from their successful stint together at Bayer Leverkusen.

According to Sky Germany, Chelsea have entered discussions with Sunderland over a potential transfer after reaching a ‘full verbal agreement’ with the player.

Alonso took over as Chelsea manager at the end of the season, replacing Enzo Maresca, who was dismissed in April. The Spaniard had been without a club since leaving Real Madrid in January following a turbulent six-month tenure.

Alonso’s greatest managerial triumph came during the 2023/24 season when he guided Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title — a campaign in which Xhaka featured 50 times across all competitions. It comes as little surprise that Alonso now wishes to bring such an experienced and dependable figure to Stamford Bridge.

Reports indicate Alonso is keen to strengthen Chelsea’s squad with seasoned professionals as the club heads into another hectic transfer window. The Blues have already seen left-back Marc Cucurella depart for Real Madrid, who are also rumoured to be eyeing a move for midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Xhaka is currently representing Switzerland at the World Cup, with his side preparing for a round-of-32 clash against Algeria. Before the tournament, he emphasised how settled he felt in the north east.

“For me, the most important thing is that my family is happy,” Xhaka said in his interview with Blick. “And we are in Sunderland. I’m not even thinking about a transfer. I’m genuinely pleased to finally have a summer without any speculation about my future. That’s been a rarity in recent years. It allows me to fully focus on the World Cup.”

From FourFourTwo’s perspective, Alonso’s desire to bring in a familiar and trusted player makes perfect sense, given that Chelsea’s squad has often felt disjointed in recent years. However, with Xhaka still having two years left on his contract, Sunderland are under no pressure to sell. The club can therefore stand firm in negotiations and demand a figure well above his €8 million Transfermarkt valuation for a player who will turn 34 in September.