Chelsea have set their sights on a reunion between Granit Xhaka and head coach Xabi Alonso, with the club interested in signing the Sunderland midfielder. Xhaka, who turns 34 in September, was a key player under Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, helping the German side win the Bundesliga title in 2024. He joined Sunderland last summer and played a major role in their promotion to the Premier League and subsequent Europa League qualification, according to the Guardian. Xhaka remains close with Alonso, who is keen to add experience to Chelsea’s squad. However, Sunderland are determined not to sell and are expected to fight to hold on to him, while Chelsea are unlikely to pay a high fee for a player with two years left on his deal.
Meanwhile, Serie A side Como have made a move for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, offering a package worth €27m (£23m). But Chelsea are holding out for €35m (£30m) for the 26-year-old England international, who is part of the World Cup squad. The bid was reported by Sky Sports in Italian.
“Chelsea target Granit Xhaka reunion with Xabi Alonso; Como bid £23m for Chalobah; Liverpool reject Inter's £21.7m Jones offer.”
Chelsea’s summer business is likely to remain busy. The club have already agreed a deal to sign Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra and are monitoring West Ham wingers Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville. Marc Cucurella has been sold to Real Madrid, who could also target Enzo Fernández.
Elsewhere, Liverpool have rejected a verbal offer of €25m (£21.7m) from Inter Milan for midfielder Curtis Jones, according to BBC Sport. The offer is well short of Liverpool’s £35m valuation, and they are unwilling to sanction a cut-price exit for the 25-year-old, who has one year left on his deal. It is the second time Inter have approached Liverpool for Jones this year; a loan-to-buy proposal in January was also turned down. Inter’s sporting director, Piero Ausilio, said: “Curtis Jones – we are paying attention to him. We didn’t hide. We understand what the developments will be.” Teammate Federico Chiesa told La Gazzetta dello Sport that Jones asked him what it is like to live in Italy. Jones joined Liverpool’s academy at age nine and signed his first professional contract in 2018.