Outstanding season for Sunderland and gives us some experience that we need.

No denying he has the experience but where exactly does he fit in?

Does this mean we aren’t making a run at Wharton?

Interesting. We need experience but he’s 33. Short term signing very anti blue co

11 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Does this mean we aren’t making a run at Wharton?

I think we have to sell Enzo first.

As long this is in addition for a say Adam Wharton I'm fine with it, as long as this isn't a case of instead of.

The fact that Xabi has been listened to isn't a bad thing though.

2 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

No denying he has the experience but where exactly does he fit in?

Does this mean we aren’t making a run at Wharton?

Already have too many bodies in the middle of the park even if Enzo leaves. Caicedo, Essugo, Lavia, Santos, Barco. You add him into the mix and you would have to lose 2 of Santos, Essugo or Lavia

We are desperate for experience, but isn't this reaching over the hill territory? He'll be 34 in September.

It does always seem to work out well for us when we sign Arsenal rejects…

21 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

We are desperate for experience, but isn't this reaching over the hill territory? He'll be 34 in September.

It's literally gone from one extreme to the other with the recruitment policy hasn't it?

As a squad player I think this could be a very good signing, as long as he isnt the only midfielder we bring in obviously.

29 minutes ago, markpitts said:

Already have too many bodies in the middle of the park even if Enzo leaves. Caicedo, Essugo, Lavia, Santos, Barco. You add him into the mix and you would have to lose 2 of Santos, Essugo or Lavia

Given up even including Lavia into any consideration for a playing spot now. He’ll miss another 90% of the season again, at best.

Presumed Barco has been bought in as LWB/LB cover as opposed to CM? Doesn’t profile well there for the Prem at all.

Either way. We’ve still got bodies there even with Enzo’s imminent departure.

Would just prefer Wharton over Xhaka for what it’s worth.

Well. The banter-era went full circle, we went from seeing Arsenal struggle to get UCL with our boys Petr Cech and Willian in the twilight of their careers to us doing the same.

57 minutes ago, markpitts said:

Already have too many bodies in the middle of the park even if Enzo leaves. Caicedo, Essugo, Lavia, Santos, Barco. You add him into the mix and you would have to lose 2 of Santos, Essugo or Lavia

Watch out on Santos. Has asset value. Proves the model for these clowns. If Guimaraes or Tonali leaves Newcastle i could easily see a strong play for Santos.

Would prefer it if we resigned Ballack.

Interesting signing. I’m not really keen on us signing Sunderland players who are 34 but his experience and relationship with Xabi will help massively.

There was rumours we were starting with a £30m bid which is crazy but I doubt will be around that price.

Well we need someone in midfield with vision and the knack of scoring the odd long ranger. Some would say ain't nobody but I say Xhaka Khan!

Could be a sensible addition. Premier league experience, knows the managers style, will absolutely put a shift in. If Alonso wants him then thats good enough for me. Is 30m really that much when we will have the premier league champions money coming in at the end of next season and champions league qualifying money too😏😏😏

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by Roland The Bruin

I can get behind this signing. We desperately need leadership and experience, Xhaka has that.

He's someone who'd give an earful to underperforming players. A welcome change from the trademark hug and kiss Sanchez gives anyone who scores an own goal.

Not bothered about the price tage either. We've spent hundreds of millions on players who'll never kick a ball for the club, and another set of hundreds of millions on utter dross.

30 m on someone who'd actually bring something to the table is nothing.

Edited 17 hours ago17 hr by yaz

Whilst I’m for this signing it just shows what a mess the owners have made of the club.

Had Alonso gone to Liverpool as many expected there isn’t a hope in hell Xhaka’s name would even be mentioned as a potential signing.

I hope he is the c**t we need to drive standards.

2 year deal followed by assistant manager position.

He's just the kind of c**t we need.

#SwissMiss

1 hour ago, yaz said:

I can get behind this signing. We desperately need leadership and experience, Xhaka has that.

He's someone who'd give an earful to underperforming players. A welcome change from the trademark hug and kiss Sanchez gives anyone who scores an own goal.

Not bothered about the price tage either. We've spent hundreds of millions on players who'll never kick a ball for the club, and another set of hundreds of millions on utter dross.

30 m on someone who'd actually bring something to the table is nothing.

Why would they listen to him though? Not to sound deliberately disrespectful, but it's Granit Xhaka we are talking about here, not Thiago Silva. It's hardly like Xhaka has been this outstanding successful top player for a decade. He had one good year in Germany and was a bit of joke at Arsenal.

51 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Why would they listen to him though? Not to sound deliberately disrespectful, but it's Granit Xhaka we are talking about here, not Thiago Silva. It's hardly like Xhaka has been this outstanding successful top player for a decade. He had one good year in Germany and was a bit of joke at Arsenal.

Yeah fair point, might not work out, but at least there's a possibility he might bring some leadership and maturity to the dressing room. Even if there's only a 10% chance this will work, it's still better than the 0% chance of this happening with another 20 year old imo.

No problem signing an old player but in tester years it would be a modric, a kroos, a casemiro not fckin xhaka ..

Xhaka will soon be 34 and if Alonso goes for his 3-4-2-1 formation, it is impossible for me to imagine he would play a pivot of Caicedo - Xhaka and two number 10s like Palmer and Estevao in front of them at the same time. If Enzo Fernandez stays, it will surely be Palmer and him in the number 10 roles. Alonso must put another runner around Xhaka because Caicedo alone is not enough in the PL.