Chelsea have had a certain way of doing business since BlueCo took over the club 2022.
Todd Boehly and co have been unconventional in their approach in the transfer market in a number of ways, including the enormous length of the contracts they have handed to star players over the past four years.
Above all else, though, Chelsea have focused almost exclusively on signing young players over the past few seasons.
Xabi Alonso wants Granit Xhaka reunion at Chelsea
Since brining in Raheem Sterling, Khalid Koulibaly, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2022/23, Chelsea have signed just one player aged over 25.
That sole exception was Tosin Adarabioyo in summer 2024, with Chelsea deigning to allow his free agent move from Fulham at the age of 26.
That transfer policy looked set to continue this summer with Chelsea signing three teenagers – Denner, Dastan Satpaev, and Geovany Quenda – alongside moving Emmanuel Emegha over from sister club Strasbourg.
However, reports suggest they are now keen on signing the positively geriatric Granit Xhaka, 33, from Sunderland.
The former Arsenal midfield was one of the signings of the season last year after making the surprise move from Bayer Leverkusen to join the newly-promoted Black Cats.
Xhaka was hugely influential in a highly impressive season for Sunderland, who finished in seventh place to earn a place in next season’s Europa League.
Of course, there is an obvious connection here: new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso was Xhaka’s manager at Leverkusen, with the pair winning a league and cup double as invincibles in 2023/24.
Chelsea are said to have opened talks with Xhaka’s representatives to discuss a potential move.
However, the BBC write that Sunderland are very resistant to selling their captain, making clear that Xhaka is not for sale.
Xhaka still has two years left to run on his contract at the Stadium of Light.