It’s not every day that a social media post sparks this much buzz… but Granit Xhaka’s latest Instagram update has drawn attention from familiar faces—Jeremie Frimpong and Leandro Trossard—right as rumors swirl around his future.

The former Arsenal captain, who made nearly 300 appearances for the Gunners and once wore the armband during a turbulent tenure in North London, is now facing fresh headlines. Since joining Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 for over £21 million, the Swiss international has been a cornerstone in Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga-winning squad.

After featuring in 49 matches last season and helping Leverkusen secure second place, Xhaka now finds himself linked with a surprise return to England—this time with newly-promoted Sunderland. While the move would be a bold statement by the Black Cats, many question whether the 32-year-old, still a key player in Germany, would be willing to trade a title-chasing side for a relegation battle.

📸 In his latest post, Xhaka shared photos from Leverkusen’s 5–1 loss to Flamengo U20s during their Brazilian pre-season tour. His caption, simply tagged “GX34”, was liked by Frimpong, Trossard, and Zeki Amdouni, sparking reactions across fan communities.

Saudi interest had loomed as well, but Neom SC reportedly backed out after refusing to increase their offer beyond €8m (£6.9m). Meanwhile, Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Sunderland remain linked—though recent reports suggest Xhaka is leaning toward staying put, with personal reasons tied to his family’s preference to remain in Germany.

📝 From Wearside’s perspective, landing Xhaka would be a dream. But as exciting as the rumors may sound, insiders now believe the deal is unlikely to develop any further.


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Mateta Not a Priority as Liverpool Near Ekitike Deal

🔴 In other news from Anfield…

Liverpool have reportedly cooled their interest in Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. Although talks did take place between the player’s camp and the Reds in Paris, sources now claim the focus has shifted heavily toward Hugo Ekitike.

Insiders reveal that Liverpool have tabled a significant offer worth £78 million for Ekitike, which includes performance-based add-ons. The club views him as a top-tier target alongside Alexander Isak, but Mateta appears further down Arne Slot’s wish list.

Despite his 17-goal haul and key role in Palace’s FA Cup triumph, Mateta seems to be more of a contingency option. His agent, meanwhile, is believed to be leveraging Liverpool’s past interest to attract offers from clubs like AC Milan and Manchester United.

🔄 Meanwhile, outgoings remain a hot topic at Anfield. Centre-back Ibrahima Konate could be on the move, with Liverpool setting a £40 million asking price after failed contract talks. Real Madrid, who already signed Trent Alexander-Arnold, are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.

Stay tuned for more updates as Liverpool’s summer rebuild continues under Slot’s new regime. 🚨