Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka is closing in on a sensational return to the Premier League, according to the report.
The midfielder left England’s top flight in 2023 when he departed the Gunners after making 297 appearances for the London club, having joined in 2016 aged 23.
In the summer transfer window two years ago, however, he left for Germany and Bayern Leverkusen, where he would go onto win the Bundesliga unbeaten under Xabi Alonso in the 2023-24 campaign.
The season wasn’t as successful last year with Leverkusen coming second in the top flight, and Alonso has departed for Real Madrid, while star players Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz have joined Liverpool.
Xhaka, meanwhile, could now be the next player out the door, with the 32-year-old reportedly set on joining a surprise Premier League club.
According to The Athletic, Xhaka has his heart set on signing for Sunderland, with the Black Cats in negotiations with Leverkusen over a deal for the midfielder.
The report suggests that Xhaka and Sunderland have agreed personal terms for the Switzerland international to move to the Stadium of Light, with the player himself picking the club over a number of other suitors.
Xhaka still has three years left on his contract in Germany, making a potential deal tougher. He has, however, reportedly asked his current club to find a solution quickly.
The potential move is somewhat of an eyebrow-raiser, given Xhaka’s importance to a club that is competing both domestically and in the Champions League.
It is, though, also seen as a sign of the ambition of Regis Le Bris’ side, who have already splashed out on Simon Adingra (£21million), Habib Diarra (£30m) and Enzo Le Fee (£20m).
They are looking to break the common pattern of promoted teams being relegated at the first time of asking, having won the play-offs in the Championship last season.
Xhaka, who often plays in a deeper midfield role, has so far played 99 times for Leverkusen in two years after spending seven at Arsenal.
Perhaps his most notable moment as a Gunners player was when he was booed off by fans at the Emirates as he egged them on. He took of his shirt and walked straight down the tunnel, and he was stripped of his role as captain.
That, though, was under Unai Emery. Xhaka and the fans rebuilt their relationship under Mikel Arteta and he left on good terms.
He could be set to face his old side twice in Sunderland colours, though, and become the latest big name to leave Leverkusen this summer.
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has a big task on his hands in terms of rebuilding after losing star players at Leverkusen – having replaced Alonso – which will now likely include Xhaka.
At Sunderland, meanwhile, Xhaka could fill a void left by Jobe Bellingham, who left the club earlier in the summer for £32m.
The likes of Reinildo, Noah Sadiki and Chemsdine Talbi have also joined Sunderland this summer.
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