Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is now in charge of Bayer Leverkusen and he has stated that the club will not sell Granit Xhaka to Sunderland this summer to Sunderland
Erik ten Hag has insisted that Granit Xhaka Bayer Leverkusen will not leave this summer, despite the fact that the newly promoted Sunderland offers him the chance to return to the Premier League. Xhaka spent seven seasons in Arsenal before he came to Leverkusen in 2023.
The 32-year-old was an important player under Xabi Alonso and helped Leverkusen to win their first Bundesliga title last year, but Ten Hag now left the lead after Alonso had left Carlo Ancelotti in Real Madrid.
However, Xhaka was associated with a move this summer and his agent, Jose Noguerra Rodriguez, had stated that personal conditions have been agreed with Sunderland. “In principle, we have reached an agreement with Sunderland,” he told Sky Sports Germany.
“Granit wants to return to the Premier League. Sunderland excelled him – he wants to take on this challenge. We hope that Leverkusen will respect his wish to leave and that the clubs will soon find an agreement.”
However, ten HAG does not want the player to leave and go back when asked about Rodriguez's comments. “His agent can say what he wants, but this club has already let three important players (Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonathan Tah) go, and we will not let anything go anymore,” said the former boss of Manchester United.
“Granit is a leader, he has three years left on his contract. It is clear – Granit is an important player, he has signed here for five years and has left on his contract for three years. He is too important for us to let him go.”
Leverkusen's director Simon Rolfes added: “I repeatedly said that Granit is an important leader. The coach and I agree on that. We are in dialogue with all our players. In the end it is always a situation of three parties.
“Granit still has a three-year-old contract and in principle there can only be a change if all three parties agree. Topics such as these always cause discussions and conversations. That is why it doesn't shock me.”
Sunderland has already spent more than £ 100 million this summer, after he had earned promotion to the Premier League by Sheffield United with 2-1 in the play-off final of the championship at Wembley.
Enzo Le Fee is permanently matched from Roma, who spent last season on loan in the stadium of light, while Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra also signed.