Erik ten Hag is putting his foot down regarding the potential transfer of Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen to Sunderland. Despite reports of an agreement between Xhaka and the newly promoted Premier League club, the former Manchester United boss is adamant that the midfielder will remain with the Bundesliga side.
Xhaka's agent, Jose Noguerra Rodriguez, told Sky Sports Germany that an agreement in principle had been reached with Sunderland and that Xhaka was keen on returning to the Premier League. "Granit wants to return to the Premier League. Sunderland excites him - he wants to take on this challenge. We hope Leverkusen will respect his wish to leave and that the clubs will find an agreement soon," Rodriguez stated. He also mentioned that Xhaka enjoyed his time at Leverkusen and appreciates everything the club has done for him. He hopes that Leverkusen can find an agreement with Sunderland.
However, Ten Hag has other plans. Speaking after a training session in Rio de Janeiro, where Bayer Leverkusen was holding its pre-season camp, Ten Hag addressed the rumors. "His agent can say whatever he wants, but this club has already let three important players [Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonathan Tah] go, and we won't let any more go," Ten Hag declared. He emphasized Xhaka's importance to the team, stating, "Granit is a leader, he still has three years left on his contract here".
Ten Hag is clearly unwilling to weaken his squad further after already losing key players. He sees Xhaka as a vital component of the team's structure and culture. "It's very clear – Granit is a leader. He signed a five-year contract and still has three years left. He's too important for us to let go," Ten Hag asserted. Losing Xhaka would be a significant blow to Bayer Leverkusen, especially after winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in 2024 but going trophyless last season.
Echoing Ten Hag's sentiments, Bayer Leverkusen's managing director for sport, Simon Rolfes, acknowledged Xhaka's importance as a leader. "I've repeatedly said that Granit is an important leadership figure. The coach and I are very much aligned when it comes to this," Rolfes stated. He also pointed out that Xhaka has three years remaining on his contract and that any transfer would require the agreement of all three parties involved. "In the end, it's always a three-party situation. Granit still has three years left on his contract – fundamentally, a transfer can only happen if all three parties agree," Rolfes explained.
Xhaka, 32, joined Leverkusen in 2023 after spending seven seasons with Arsenal. He quickly became a key player, helping the team win their first-ever Bundesliga title. With 137 caps for Switzerland, Xhaka brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. Ten Hag's firm stance indicates that he values Xhaka's contributions and sees him as essential to Bayer Leverkusen's future success.
It remains to be seen whether Xhaka will attempt to push for a move to Sunderland. However, Ten Hag's strong words suggest that Bayer Leverkusen will not easily let go of their influential midfielder. The situation highlights the clash between a player's desire for a new challenge and a manager's need to retain key personnel. With pre-season underway, the coming weeks will reveal whether Sunderland can persuade Leverkusen to change their position or if Xhaka will remain in Germany for the foreseeable future.
