Chelsea are apparently keen on bringing Granit Xhaka to Stamford Bridge, and when you think about it, the logic is pretty hard to argue with. Xabi Alonso built something genuinely special with Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen, and the Swiss midfielder was the heartbeat of that unbeaten Bundesliga title winning side. Alonso clearly knows exactly how to use him, and Xhaka clearly knows exactly what Alonso wants. That kind of understanding between a manager and a player is rare and worth chasing.
The small wrinkle here is that Sunderland are not exactly rushing to wave Xhaka goodbye. The Black Cats want to hold onto him, which is completely understandable given he is exactly the type of experienced head a promoted side desperately needs around them. Sunderland have worked hard to get back to the Premier League and keeping a player of Xhaka's quality would send a very clear message about their ambitions. Still, when Chelsea come calling with their considerable resources, these things have a way of moving quickly.
Xhaka is 32 now, so nobody is pretending this is a long term project. But Chelsea under Alonso are building something with a clear identity, and Xhaka fits that profile perfectly. He is disciplined, reads the game well, and brings a level of composure in midfield that money cannot always buy. Chelsea have spent obscene amounts on young talent in recent years, and adding a seasoned operator like Xhaka alongside that group makes a lot of sense.
There is also a reported subplot involving Como having interest in Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, which could potentially free up funds or simply be one of those transfer window coincidences that means absolutely nothing in the end. These things are always connected until they are not.
As a United fan, watching Chelsea potentially land a manager of Alonso's calibre and then efficiently recruit players who suit his system is mildly terrifying, not that anyone asked. They look like they mean business this summer.
Let me know your thoughts.