29 Jun 2026 22:45:37
I think £8 million is a very good offer for 34 year old Granit Xhaka, if he wants the move it will happen, we might be squeezed for a bit more but a very sensible starting point from the club. The transfer market is going crazy this summer and some of our stock piling of players might just turn into huge revenue going forward.
Talks of Delap going for £45 million and Gusto for £75 million, I'm not really into all this banter about what a player is worth or is not worth but I'm bored watching this Germany game tonight so thought I would get involved. Fair play to the owners for showing the foresight over the last few seasons to snap up potential.
30 Jun 2026 05:49:56
Greenaway, if Sunderland don't want to sell they don't have to but I agree that I personally wouldn't want the club to pay much more than our reported offer.
My guess would be, if a deal is to happen, it will be because the "player" wants to leave.
30 Jun 2026 08:12:54
We move onto our next target then, Tom. Why would Sunderland sell their most influential player? It was always going to be a tough ask, even with a better offer.
30 Jun 2026 08:18:16
Bill, exactly, mate. The only way I can see it changing is if the player says he wants to move.
The player may well be unhappy if we move onto another target and he wants to leave.
30 Jun 2026 08:38:12
So be it, Tom. That is for Sunderland to worry about. Our worry is, where are our leaders coming from?
Please don't say 'within.' We completely imploded in the second half of last season. Even if the coach was not good enough, we have had this situation before, but JT, Lamps, etc. stood up and pulled us through.
30 Jun 2026 11:28:07
My feeling is, if Xhaka really wants this move, he will ask Sunderland to find a compromise, and if not, he will then have to hand in a transfer request.
Either way, I think he will be joining us, I hope so.
30 Jun 2026 13:13:55
But they don't have to transfer him, swcfc.
30 Jun 2026 14:03:15
That's true, of course, Bill, but they will then be keeping a disgruntled, demotivated player who's burnt his bridges with the club and fans.
It really depends on how much he wants the move and is prepared to push.
30 Jun 2026 16:03:50
Bill, why would I say "from within" when I have been very critical of what appears to be a lack of leaders in our squad for several seasons.
We are not the only club in the Premiership who would very rarely keep an unhappy player.
30 Jun 2026 16:35:19
My point is, where are we going to get the leaders we need? We are already messing Sunderland around with what could be one.
30 Jun 2026 17:21:28
Why on earth do you think we are messing Sunderland around? We have put in an offer that's been turned down. If they say to us, "no matter what you offer, we will not sell," then I guess we walk away.
Bill, I have no idea who is on the list of our targets; we may well have loads of leaders on that list.
I'm all for digging the club out when it's reasonable, but I can't see any reason to be critical at the moment.
30 Jun 2026 17:45:53
Trust the vision, Bill. The Sds have delivered so far. We're stacked top to bottom with future leaders and stars. We just have to wait 5 years to see if any of the good ones can be bothered staying.
30 Jun 2026 21:53:56
Bill, I regard you as a great poster on here, one of our banter family. You do see things so pessimistically at times, but that said, you are a genuine Chelsea mate.
01 Jul 2026 08:00:37
Cheers for that, Greenaway.
I just thought it would have been good to have a leader in the pack for, let's face it, a smallish fee, albeit no sell on value.
Maybe we will get the leaders we need, but he is the one Alonso wants.
I just try and highlight what I see is wrong with us, including FOS and SB projects, but it's very important this season to get the playing staff right.
02 Jul 2026 09:32:14
Perhaps Sunderland will think they have another cover in midfield, given their Kante-like Noah Sadiki, who was so effective for much of the game for DRC v England yesterday. In fact, another Sunderland DRC player, defender Masuaku, looked good as well. So, they put together a pretty good side at fairly low cost to make European football ahead of us last season.
02 Jul 2026 11:41:45
I do agree that, if the price is right, Granit Xhaka may be a good addition in terms of adding experience and familiarity with Alonso at Leverkusen. Good to have in the squad, but I would not want this to lead to Santos leaving.
But perhaps he would be a replacement in the squad, or alternating in the side, but playing far more matches cos of the ever injured Lavia.