Under his leadership, Sunderland has been promoted twice in less than five years, including a thrilling Championship playoff final win against Sheffield United in May.

However, losing talented young player Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund was a significant blow. To counter this, manager Regis Le Bris has made several key signings, including Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, Simon Adingra from Brighton, Enzo Le Fee from Roma, Chesmine Talbi from Club Brugge, Noah Sadiki from Union Saint-Gilloise, and Reinildo Mandava from Atletico Madrid, who joined on a free transfer.

Now, Sunderland is reportedly making a bold bid to sign experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen.

Xhaka, 32, has an impressive 137 caps for Switzerland and extensive Premier League experience from his time at Arsenal. He has also played a crucial role in Bayer Leverkusen's first and only Bundesliga title win in 2023.

Despite having three years left on his contract, there is an understanding that Xhaka could be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in.

Xhaka's combative style and leadership qualities are reminiscent of former Sunderland player Jordan Henderson, who has since joined Brentford. Xhaka has been impressive in Germany, winning more fouls than he has conceded, but could improve his yellow card tally.

With an energetic young squad, Sunderland needs experienced players like Xhaka to complement their team and help consolidate their position in the Premier League.

Xhaka's reliability is not in question, having played 78 games for Leverkusen, with 75 of those as a starter. He has a high passing accuracy, with a lowest of 88.7% and a highest of 94.6%, and has made 6,957 passes in two seasons.

He is also a hard worker, covering 378.2km during the 2024/25 campaign and making 2,426 intensive runs. Xhaka has won 285 one-on-one duels and 76 aerial duels, and has made 460 ball recoveries.

As a defensive midfielder, Xhaka has been virtually peerless, with a high tackle success rate of 72.4%. He has also scored six goals for Leverkusen, all from outside the box, showcasing his impressive left foot.

With a reported €10m price tag, Xhaka would be a steal of a signing for Sunderland. However, Saudi Arabian side NEOM has also bid for him, offering a significant financial package. If Xhaka prioritizes salary, he may choose to join NEOM. But with a clear project and ambition at Sunderland, he may be tempted to return to the Premier League.

Sunderland's drive and determination are exactly what they need to succeed in the Premier League. Xhaka's signing would be a significant boost to the team's chances of success.