Granite Zaka is back in the Premier League with Sunderland as Bayer Leberkusen star finalizes the exit after getting angry at Eric Ten Hag’s approach
Sunderland has agreed to a deal with Bayer Leberkusen, who has Granite Zaka returned to the Premier League two years after leaving Arsenal.
The Swiss midfielder became German champions from his absence, but now links with the newly promoted side. Sunderland has secured its services on a £17 million deal, of which £13 million has been paid upfront, plus an additional £4 million with add-ons.
Xhaka agreed to personal terms with the club last week before signing a three-year contract. Sunderland, whose previous offers were rejected, ultimately transferred across the line with a total package increased by £7 million.
This switch means that Erik Ten Hag has lost yet another major number at Leverkusen, despite not being in charge of a competitive match yet. The former Manchester United boss was hired to replace Xabi Alonso, but is not loved by all his players.
Bild previously reported that Ten Hag made a deliberate effort to give new Leverkusen players time and space before contacting them for the first time. However, that approach was not universally well received in Zhaka among Xhaka.
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Ten Hag only made contact with the former Arsenal midfielder three weeks after his appointment. That lack of communication has led the Swiss star to question his future, and he is being sought for a new one in search of pasture. The former United boss tried to highlight how important the 32-year-old felt his plans were to move forward, but the damage ended up being done.
Despite apparently being frustrated by Xhaka with his approach, the Dutch, who is trying to prove himself after the poor end of his stint in Manchester, had insisted that the Swiss midfielder would not go anywhere, despite the Swiss midfielder admitting to a deal with Sunderland.
Ten Hag said: “His agents can say anything he wants, but the club has already forced three important players (Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonathan Tah) to go.
It was the final blow for the Bundesliga outfit, losing many major rights who helped win the league title over a year ago. Wirtz has left Liverpool’s UK record deal, which relies on Leverkusen for over £100 million. Frimon chased him to Anfield. Tar moved to Bayern Munich rivals.
Given the enormous amount of funds, the Germans were able to bring Jarrell Kuanza from Liverpool with great thought into it. Malik Tillman is another of the major signatures that are moving away from PSV.
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