Granit Xhaka has informed Bayer Leverkusen that he only wants to join Sunderland, as club-to-club talks continue over a deal for the Swiss midfielder.
An agreement is now in place between Xhaka and the Premier League club, with the 32-year-old prioritising a move to Regis Le Bris’ men over other suitors.
Leverkusen have been asked by Xhaka to close the proposed transfer rapidly and negotiations over the Switzerland international are ongoing to find a solution.
His contract in Germany runs through to 2028.
The 32-year-old former Arsenal player has played a key role for Leverkusen across his two seasons at the Bundesliga side, making 99 appearances and helping the club to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24.
Xhaka previously spent seven years in north London, where he made 297 appearances and won the FA Cup in the 2016-17 and 2019-20 campaigns.
Sunderland have already signed central midfielder Habib Diarra, wingers Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi, full-back Reinildo and the versatile Noah Sadiki in a busy summer since winning the play-off final to clinch a return to the top flight.
Diarra and Sadiki will give Sunderland depth in central midfield positions but they are also keen to add Xhaka following the sale of Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer.
Xhaka would become the latest high profile exit from Leverkusen this summer, after Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool in a club-record transfer, while Jeremie Frimpong also departed for Anfield after the Premier League champions activated his €35million (£29.6m;$39.3m) release clause.
Erik ten Hag was appointed Leverkusen’s new head coach earlier this summer, succeeding Xabi Alonso after the Spaniard moved to Real Madrid.
(Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images)
