Chelsea push for Xhaka blocked by Sunderland as Beşiktaş watch situation closely
Chelsea’s first concrete move for Granit Xhaka has hit a wall, and the outcome has unexpectedly drawn the attention of Beşiktaş supporters, who are following the saga in the hope that the situation might eventually play in their club’s favour.
According to information shared by journalist David Ornstein, Chelsea submitted an official 8 million euro bid to Sunderland to bring the Swiss midfielder to Stamford Bridge. The London club sees Xhaka as a key piece in their midfield rebuild and moved early in the window to test Sunderland’s resolve.
The answer from Sunderland, however, was clear: no sale. Despite viewing Chelsea’s financial proposal as reasonable, the Premier League side rejected the offer and informed the Blues that they are not currently open to negotiating Xhaka’s transfer.
Sunderland’s stance: captain at the heart of the project
Inside the club, Xhaka is not just another squad member. He is the captain and a central figure in Sunderland’s sporting project for next season and beyond. Reports indicate that the club’s board, while satisfied with the amount placed on the table, decided that sporting priorities outweigh financial gain at this stage.
Sunderland’s reasoning is straightforward: Xhaka is seen as the tactical and emotional leader of the team. His influence in the dressing room, his experience at the highest level and his ability to organise play from midfield make him difficult to replace. The management considers him a pillar of the current project, and for that reason the option of selling him was not even seriously evaluated, despite Chelsea’s interest.
Xabi Alonso’s Xhaka insistence
Chelsea’s pursuit of Xhaka has been strongly linked to manager Xabi Alonso. The Spanish coach previously worked with the Swiss international at Bayer Leverkusen, where the pair enjoyed major success, including a Bundesliga title. That shared history is key to understanding why Alonso has pushed for his former player.
Xhaka operated as the brain of Alonso’s Leverkusen side, orchestrating possession, dictating tempo and providing leadership on and off the pitch. Alonso now wants to recreate that structure at Chelsea and believes Xhaka’s personality and tactical intelligence would accelerate the adaptation of his ideas within the London club.
Xhaka’s first year at Sunderland
After joining Sunderland last summer, Xhaka quickly became indispensable. In the most recent Premier League season he featured in 34 matches, a clear sign of the trust placed in him by the coaching staff. Even though his numbers on paper – 1 goal and 6 assists – may not look spectacular, they only tell part of the story.
Beyond direct goal contributions, Xhaka’s value lies in his build-up play, his aggression in duels and his ability to maintain balance between defence and attack. His regular availability, consistency and leadership led Sunderland to hand him the captain’s armband and to place him at the centre of their medium-term planning. That is why, when Chelsea came knocking, the response was swift and decisive.
Where does Beşiktaş enter the picture?
The rejection of Chelsea’s offer naturally sparked debate in Turkey, particularly among Beşiktaş fans. The surface logic looks simple: if Sunderland refuse to sell Xhaka even to a giant like Chelsea, perhaps they might consider a different type of deal later in the window, or circumstances could change if the player pushes for a move. This is where the idea of “Beşiktaş’s hope increasing” has emerged.
However, when examined more closely, the situation is far from straightforward. At present there is no concrete indication that Beşiktaş have submitted an official bid for Xhaka or initiated advanced talks. The optimism expressed in some corners is therefore more about reading the market dynamics than reflecting an existing negotiation.
Financial and sporting realities for Beşiktaş
For Beşiktaş, any potential move for Xhaka would be shaped by two main factors: financial power and the player’s own ambitions. Sunderland have already demonstrated they are willing to turn down a respectable 8 million euro offer from Chelsea. If they do eventually soften their stance, it is unlikely they will lower their expectations for another club.
In addition, the salary package required to convince a player of Xhaka’s pedigree would be significant. Competing against Premier League or top-five league wages is always a challenge for Turkish clubs. Beşiktaş would need to present a project strong enough not only financially, but also in terms of sporting targets – title contention, European competitions and a clear role in the team.
Why some Beşiktaş fans question the “increased hope” narrative
Among the Beşiktaş fan base there is a noticeable scepticism towards headlines suggesting that Sunderland’s refusal somehow benefits the Turkish club. The logic voiced by many is simple: if a Premier League team rejects an attractive bid from Chelsea because Xhaka is central to their plans and wears the captain’s armband, why would they suddenly become open to selling him more cheaply to Beşiktaş?
Some supporters also point out that no official statement or strong report has yet connected Beşiktaş with a concrete attempt for Xhaka. From that perspective, the idea that “Beşiktaş’s chances have grown” appears more like speculative optimism than a reflection of ongoing talks. They stress that creating unrealistic expectations around such transfers can lead to disappointment and unnecessary pressure on the club’s management.
Could Sunderland’s stance change later in the window?
Despite the firm initial answer to Chelsea, transfer markets are fluid. A lot can change in a few weeks: new signings, tactical reshuffles, unexpected offers or even the player’s own wishes. If Xhaka were to express a desire for a new challenge, Sunderland might be forced to reassess their position.
For Beşiktaş, the most realistic scenario would involve waiting to see whether Sunderland bring in another experienced midfielder, or whether a significantly higher bid from another club triggers negotiations. In that case, if Xhaka were genuinely open to a move to Turkey and if financial conditions were somehow balanced, Beşiktaş could attempt to enter the race as an alternative destination. At this stage, that remains hypothetical rather than imminent.
How Xhaka would fit Beşiktaş tactically
From a purely football perspective, Xhaka is the type of midfielder Beşiktaş have often lacked in recent seasons: a left-footed organiser who can dictate play, break lines with passing and provide leadership. His ability to drop between the centre-backs to start attacks, combined with his aggressive pressing, would bring structure and personality to Beşiktaş’s midfield.
He could operate in a double pivot in front of the defence, or as the deeper player in a three-man midfield, allowing more offensive teammates to take risks higher up the pitch. His set-piece quality and long-range passing would also add variation to Beşiktaş’s attacking patterns. In that sense, it is easy to see why fans might dream of such a signing.
The gap between dream and reality
Nevertheless, the distance between theoretical fit and actual transfer feasibility is considerable. Beşiktaş are working under financial fair play constraints and must balance their wage bill and transfer spending carefully. Investing heavily in a single high-profile name carries certain risks, especially if it restricts the club’s ability to strengthen weaker positions elsewhere in the squad.
Another key question is Xhaka’s own career priorities. Having just played an important role in the Premier League and previously competed at the top of the Bundesliga, he may prefer to remain in the most visible European leagues. For Beşiktaş to convince him, they would need to offer not only a strong financial package but also a sporting project that aligns with his ambitions and timeline.
What Beşiktaş actually need from this situation
Instead of clinging to the idea that “Sunderland didn’t sell to Chelsea, so now they might sell to us”, Beşiktaş can use this case as a benchmark for the current market. The refusal illustrates how expensive and difficult it is to sign experienced, top-level midfielders who are leaders at their clubs.
For Beşiktaş’s sporting management, the priority should be to define a clear transfer strategy: whether to pursue a big-name leader like Xhaka, or to focus on slightly younger, more attainable profiles with potential resale value. Monitoring situations like Xhaka’s is important, but building a squad around realistic targets is even more crucial.
Outlook
At this moment, the only solid fact is that Chelsea’s initial offer for Granit Xhaka has been rejected, and Sunderland intend to keep their captain at the heart of next season’s plans. Xabi Alonso will have to rethink his midfield options, while Xhaka’s immediate future appears to remain in England.
For Beşiktaş, the story is more about possibility than probability. Fans may allow themselves to imagine scenarios in which Xhaka ultimately leaves and Istanbul becomes a surprise destination, but there is no concrete move in that direction yet. Any genuine “increase in hope” will depend not on headlines, but on whether Sunderland’s stance softens, Chelsea return with a much higher offer, or the player himself pushes for a change that opens the door to new, unexpected negotiations.