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Sunderland fans issue open letter; Chelsea have offer for Granit Xhaka turned down

Sunderland fans issue an open letter, reacting, while Chelsea have an £8million offer for Granit Xhaka turned down.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Sunderland have told Chelsea that the 33 year old is not for sale at any price.

“Stamford Bridge club felt bid fair but PL rivals viewed as unacceptable + insist no further proposals will be entertained.”

An update from Fabrizio Romano on Granit Xhaka: The dream move is also for Granit Xhaka. Granit Xhaka is pushing to go to Chelsea. The agreement between Xhaka and Chelsea on the player’s contract is already done, because there is no problem there.

Xhaka wants to go to Chelsea. He only wants to go to Chelsea and reunite with Xabi Alonso, but Sunderland are being tough in the negotiations.

Sunderland are being very strong in the discussions because they don’t want to sell Xhaka. It’s not just a technical decision.

It’s also about showing that not any club can simply come to Sunderland and take their players. Sunderland feel they are in a very strong financial position and are at a fantastic stage of their project.

Sunderland are saying, “We don’t want to sell the player,” especially because Chelsea’s opening bid was £8 million. I told you yesterday…

In a video late last night, I said Chelsea’s bid would not be, as reported, £30 million or €30 million—forget about that.

Chelsea will offer far less than that. At the moment, Chelsea are offering £8 million, and that is not enough to convince Sunderland. So, at the moment, there is no agreement.

Sunderland don’t want to sell, but obviously the player is also going to play a role in this story. We have to understand how Chelsea and Sunderland will continue their discussions.

So, let’s see what happens over the next few days.

Amid the links, Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, also a Sunderland fan, tweeted: “I’ve been hurt by Sunderland players leaving before…

“Darren Bent to Aston Villa, Patrick Van Aanholt to Crystal Palace, Stéphane Sessègnon to West Brom, even Josh Maja to Bordeaux…

“I could always handle players like Henderson, Mignolet, Jobe taking huge, deserved leaps, Pickford the same after we were relegated… but I’ve never liked players making sideways steps.

“Nothing though, will be able to prepare me for seeing Granit Xhaka in a Chelsea shirt… I can’t begin to fathom it.

“Chelsea are a bigger club, with a better chance of silverware over the next few seasons… but they’ve finished 10th or below twice in the last 4 years, finished 3 places below Sunderland in 25/26, losing to us home and away, and feel like a long way off their peak.

“Xhaka would throw away EVERYTHING he’s said about Sunderland, the fans, the community… to move back to London, work with a manager he’s already worked with and represent one of Arsenal’s biggest rivals?

“I’m always reluctant to use words like betrayal… football is a business, players have to make decisions that they think is best for them…

“But for me it would be one of the most soulless moves of the summer.”

Ian Kinniburgh wrote in the ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ FTM’ Facebook group:

“An Open Letter to Granit

“Dear Granit,

“Football will always generate rumours. The bigger the player, the louder the speculation. That is simply part of the game.

“What stands out, however, is not what others say, but what you have consistently said yourself. You have spoken warmly about Sunderland, its people, and the sense of belonging you have found here. You have recognised the passion, honesty and pride that define both the club and the city—qualities that mirror the professionalism and standards you have built your career upon.

“Those who have followed your career know you are not someone who is easily swayed by headlines or external noise. Your reputation has been forged on commitment, loyalty to the project you believe in, and setting the highest standards every day.

“Whatever clubs may be linked in the media, Sunderland supporters trust actions over rumours. Your words have carried weight because they have always been backed by your character.

“Should you choose to share this publicly, know that it reflects the respect felt by thousands of supporters: not an expectation, but an appreciation of the values you have shown since arriving.

“Thank you for embracing Sunderland as more than just a football club. Whatever tomorrow brings, that connection has already earned lasting respect.

“With gratitude and best wishes,

“A Sunderland Supporter”

Here’s the social media reaction as Sunderland fans issue an open letter; and Chelsea have their offer for Granit Xhaka turned down…

@RejectedBook:
Xhaka needs to be REALLY REALLY careful here.
His career could be OVER.
He is 36 when his contract ends.
£8m is NOTHING. We could literally let him fade away for the sake of losing £8m.
He must be GUTTED Chelsea don’t value him
Only 3 outcomes I see now . . .
1) Xhaka apologises to Sunderland’s owners and fans, we all move on.
2) Chelsea offer serious money £30m+ and he goes.
3) No proper offer and no apology and Xhaka will literally end his career by rotting in our reserves.
#SAFC #CFC

@Powell_Matthew: Xhaka has played his last game for us. No point pretending otherwise. Player power has never been stronger and no matter how hard the club dig their heels in, the situation is untenable now and he’ll go. Can only hope we rinse them for as much £ as possible. #SAFC

@MiserableMackem: £8m is an insult, by the way. #Chelsea should hang their heads in shame. Obviously they know Xhaka wants to leave #SAFC but £8m? Hahahaha Jesus.

@Ian_Crow3: Genuinely this is insulting to not just us, but Xhaka as well, a player Alonso so desperately wants and thats how much they value him, less than half what we paid. Yeah, happy club have seen it as disrespectful and I hope if Chelsea try again we simply tell them to do one. #SAFC

@past_sunderland: Xhaka should be telling them to fuck off if they seriously value him at £8m! They’ll obviously come back in but good on the club for fucking that off. #SAFC

@LdySAFC: Hear me out. I genuinely believe that Chelsea higher ups do not want Xhaka, that’s why they are offering so little. It doesn’t fit their model. They just want to be seen to be backing their new man by attempting a transfer. Or I’m delusional #SAFC

@RyanEvans29: That is one of the more insulting bids from any club in world football for a player as important to us as Xhaka. If this is where Chelsea are valuing him, they’re never going to get them & that bottom comment from our side, says it all to. #SAFC

@SAFCFANSVIEW: They’ve bid EIGHT million for Xhaka? They think he’s worth EIGHT million pounds? The idiots! @ChelseaFC #SAFC #CFC

@joshsafc_: Only positive is hopefully ghisolfi acts and gets us a long term 6, which is what we have needed with or without Xhaka for years. Still very excited to see what talent we can attract this summer. #SAFC

@SAFCFANSVIEW: In reality….. Granit Xhaka joining Chelsea wouldn’t be strange. The strange move and shock was last season when he joined us from @bayer04_en. He’s a special character and player. Done wonders for us and hope somehow we can keep him. #SAFC #CFC

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