Granit Xhaka transfer news: Chelsea interested in signing Sunderland midfielder to...

Chelsea are interested in signing Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka. There has been no club-to-club contact and Sunderland would not welcome any offers, with the midfielder not for sale. Xhaka is one of the midfield options Chelsea are looking at as they want to buy experienced players with proven Premier League experience. No broadcaster? or Xhaka turns 34 in September so Chelsea would not pay over the odds. Sunderland signed him for £13m last summer and he played a key part in not only keeping the club in the Premier League, but qualifying for the Europa League. Xhaka was also keen for a move back to London at that time, with West Ham an option, but decided against pursuing a move. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso starts work next week and he had great success with Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga. Marco Palestra underwent his Chelsea medical on Friday. The right-sided defender is set to join from Atalanta in a deal worth £43m. Palestra, 21, arrived in London from Rome on Thursday night to finalise the move. The Italian will become Alonso's first signing as Chelsea manager. Chelsea make enquiry for Lacroix Chelsea have enquired about signing Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. Alonso wants to sign a new centre-back this summer and Lacroix is one of several targets. Meanwhile, Italian side Como are very interested in signing Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah. However, a deal looks difficult for Como to achieve and there are other interested clubs.