Xabi Alonso 'doing everything in his power' to 'convince' Chelsea to finalise Granit Xhaka deal
Xabi Alonso is doing everything in his power to convince Chelsea to do a deal for Granit Xhaka despite Sunderland's reluctance to sell.
The Blues have already seen an £8million offer rejected by Sunderland, who remain adamant that the 33-year-old is not for sale due to his importance to their plans.
Chelsea are believed to be reluctant to pay over the odds for an ageing player, but Alonso has been the driving force behnid the deal and is pushing for a fresh bid.
Former Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Alonso's influence could force Chelsea to return with a new offer and to test the Black Cats' resolve.
Sunderland, however, are standing firm on their stance that Xhaka will not be allowed to leave regardless of any increased offer, further complicating the deal.
Alonso remains hopeful that the clubs can agree a reunion with his fomer captain, with whom he enjoys a strong relationship after their time at Bayer Leverkusen.
Could Chelsea agree a deal for Granit Xhaka?
Alonso has always spoken very highly of Xhaka since working with him at Leverkusen, and his arrival at Stamford Bridge could raise the standards of his teammates.
Bringing in an experienced leader who already knows the manager's ways would be seen as a valuable addition to what is a young squad in West London.
Alonso has emerged as the clear driving force behind the deal, and despite doubts amongst the Stamford Bridge hierarchy, he is hopeful a deal can be agreed.
"The Granit Xhaka situation is definitely one to watch at the moment," Brown told Football Insider.
"Sunderland gave him a route back into the Premier League, he took that chance and was outstanding for them, so it's a move that has really worked out well for both parties.
"From their point of view, they're not going to want to let him go already, he's under contract there and he's a big part of their plans.
"At a price like the £8m Chelsea have offered, it's never going to happen, and then the concern from a Chelsea point of view is how much are they willing to pay for a 33-year-old.
"The board will have their doubts about that, it goes against what they've done previously in the market, so spending big on an older player is not something they'll be massively happy with.
"Their decision to go after him is mainly coming from the manager, who is doing everything in his power to convince Chelsea that they should sign Xhaka.
"They obviously have that relationship after working together in Germany and he feels he would bring experience and know-how which Chelsea need.
"But again, Sunderland aren't willing to sell, so it depends how far Chelsae are prepared to go to back Alonso and do a deal for Xhaka.
"I expect they will make another offer to see if they can test Sunderland's resolve, but it will be difficult for them to do either way."
How will Xhaka's future impact Sunderland's plans?
After a strong first season back in the Premier League, at the end of which they qualified for next season's Europa League, Sunderland hope to build on their ambitions.
There is a long-term plan in place for Regis Le Bris' side to continue their progress after establishing a clear culture and direction at the club.
However, former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that losing Xhaka could seriously damage Sunderland's plans and they must find a way around his exit.
Amid reports that the midfielder has agreed personal terms with Chelsea, Sunderland may be forced to plan for his departure by lining up a replacement.
Meanwhile, Sunderland are hopeful that they can block a move altogether, although it remains to be seen whether Xhaka will look to force through an exit.