Sunderland dismiss shock January rumours as Juventus linked with Xhaka

Granit Xhaka has become the unlikely star of the Italian sports press this week after Tuttosport splashed him across their front page, claiming Juventus want to sign the midfielder in January. The report suggests the 33-year-old’s representatives are exploring “better opportunities” across Europe despite Sunderland’s superb Premier League season — but the claims crumble under scrutiny.

Xhaka only joined Sunderland in the summer after a long negotiation with Bayer Leverkusen. His agent worked hard to push the move through, with the Black Cats beating AC Milan to his signature after weeks of back-and-forth. He has since become one of the pillars of Régis Le Bris’ unexpected top-flight success.

According to Tuttosport, Juventus remain admirers after failing to land Xhaka in the summer and believe January could offer a second chance. They argue that because Xhaka’s entourage showed openness to the idea of Turin months ago, a mid-season switch is not impossible.

The paper even insists Sunderland would not stand in his way should he request to leave — a claim that feels more like conjecture than insight. For a club exceeding expectations and built around experienced leaders, the idea of letting Xhaka walk halfway through the project is implausible.

Despite the sensational presentation, the transfer link lacks a foundation. Sunderland are having a season no one predicted, and Xhaka is at the heart of the project. He has played 11 Premier League matches, scored once, provided three assists and shown the leadership qualities that made him such a success at Arsenal and Leverkusen.

Tuttosport frame the story around the idea that Xhaka’s camp are shopping him around while Sunderland’s stock is rising — but there is no evidence from the English side, the player or his entourage. It reads more like seasonal transfer noise than a credible negotiation.

In our view, this story has all the hallmarks of classic January rumour inflation — a respected veteran, a big Italian club, and a narrative built on “regret” from previous windows. But on footballing merit and on Sunderland’s current trajectory, a winter exit makes little sense.

Xhaka provides leadership, tactical clarity and emotional stability in a young squad. Moving him now would undermine everything Le Bris has built. We believe Sunderland will treat this story as noise, not negotiation. If anything, his form makes a future extension, not an exit, the more realistic outcome.

Xhaka is expected to start again this weekend as Sunderland continue their momentum in the Premier League. Internally, the club view him as central to their season — not as a player available for transfer. Any January noise is likely to fade once the window opens and real negotiations take shape.

👉 Sunderland fans — any chance you’d consider selling Xhaka in January, or is he untouchable for the project?