Chelsea in talks to sign Sunderland's Xhaka

Xhaka played 34 times as Sunderland finished seventh in the Premier League last season

Sunderland say experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka is not for sale after it emerged Chelsea have entered talks with the player’s camp over a potential move.

The Switzerland international, 33, who is under contract until 2028, played a key role in helping the Black Cats qualify for Europe last season.

His representatives are understood to have had contact from Stamford Bridge - though sources inside the club have yet to confirm it.

But he is known to be open to a reunion with former manager Xabi Alonso at Chelsea, having won the Bundesliga together with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.

Personal terms have not been agreed with Chelsea, however.

Sunderland qualified for the Europa League at Chelsea’s expense on the final day of last season and are known to have no financial pressure to sell key players. Sources at the club say they have no intention of letting Xhaka go.

The ex-Arsenal man - who is with Switzerland at the World Cup - missed just four league games for the Wearside club and won plenty of plaudits as he captained Regis Le Bris’ side to a seventh-place finish.

For Chelsea, any successful move would see a radical shift in transfer policy, signing a player who will turn 34 in September, having fielded the youngest team in the Premier League for the past two seasons. They have not selected a player aged 30 or over during that period.

Members of the club’s leadership, including co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, acknowledge that adjustments are needed to improve their recruitment.

Some of the criticism has centred on a perceived lack of leadership and concerns over dressing-room culture, which is something the former Arsenal captain received widespread praise for helping to build at newly-promoted Sunderland last season.

A move for a midfielder has long been part of Chelsea’s plans this summer, and comes amid growing expectations that Enzo Fernandez could join Real Madrid.

Chelsea have not received a formal approach for the Argentina international and value him at around £120m. However, sources in Spain suggest there is internal support at Real Madrid for a move, including from club president Florentino Perez and new manager Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea are also set to sign Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra, while a number of players - including Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo - face uncertain futures.

Defender Marc Cucurella has already joined Real Madrid.

Altrincham sign ex-Rochdale midfielder Barlow

Aidan Barlow has scored eight goals and registered 14 assists in 82 career appearances in the National League

Altrincham have signed former Rochdale midfielder Aidan Barlow.

The 26-year-old made 38 National League appearances last season to help the Dale win promotion to League Two and scored five goals.

Barlow is a product of the Manchester United youth academy and had spells with Doncaster Rovers and Eastleigh before joining Rochdale in 2024.

He joins the Robins for free after his Rochdale contract expired at the end of the 2025-26 campaign and becomes Altrincham’s second summer signing following the arrival of ex-Tranmere Rovers forward Sam Taylor.

Arsenal poised to make Guimaraes offer after talks

Newcastle United signed Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon in 2022 and Sandro Tonali from AC Milan in 2023

Arsenal are set to make a move for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after holding exploratory talks.

The Gunners have looked into approaches for either Guimaraes or his club team-mate Sandro Tonali as they attempt to bolster their midfield.

During discussions aimed at checking the financial conditions of a deal for Guimaraes, it is understood a fee of around £60m was initially intimated with the 28-year-old’s representatives.

Arsenal are now poised to make a fresh offer as they remain in talks over a deal for the Brazil international, but it is understood Newcastle have not yet had an official approach.

Discussions have also taken place with Tonali’s representatives as the Gunners assess numerous options in their desire to add a new central midfielder to their squad this summer.

As things stand, it is understood they only want one leading central midfielder, while Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi are other players being considered.

Newcastle have already turned down a bid of around £80m from Tottenham Hotspur for Tonali and do not want to lose Guimaraes, the team’s captain and talisman.

Guimaraes, who has two years left on his contract, has been focused on his efforts with Brazil at the World Cup, where his side will face Japan in the last 32.

As BBC Sport previously reported, Newcastle are in a strong position to command a greater fee closer to £100m for Tonali as Manchester City also monitor developments.

The Italy international is effectively contracted until 2030 after he signed a new contract during his 10-month betting ban to repay the faith the club showed in him.

The current transfer market might also work in Newcastle’s favour, if a bidding war ensues, given the valuations of midfielders elsewhere.

Manchester City have agreed a deal with Nottingham Forest to sign England’s Elliot Anderson for a club record £116m, while West Ham want up to £80m for Mateus Fernandes, 21.

With Guimaraes turning 29 in November and Tonali having turned 26 in May, the age of both players is likely to emerge as a key factor in how much Arsenal would be willing to pay.

But sources have indicated the Gunners have also expressed firm interest in 22-year-old Scott, who has interest from Manchester United and Chelsea as well.

The merits of Morocco international Bouaddi and West Ham’s Fernandes, who is also a key target for Tottenham, have also been assessed internally.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is renowned for working on numerous deals simultaneously before making a final decision on which one to execute.

The arrival of another central midfielder will lead to the sale of a current player in the same position, with Denmark’s Christian Norgaard, 32, someone the club will listen to offers for.

It could also bring into question Martin Zubimendi’s role as a regular starter in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI next season.

The window has not long been open, but some of the Premier League’s highest-earning clubs have their eyes on Newcastle’s best players.

Tottenham Hotspur have already made an unsuccessful opening offer for Tonali, while Arsenal hold an interest in the Italian as well as fellow midfielder Guimaraes.

Tonali is a key player at Newcastle, but it is hard to overstate Guimaraes’ importance - the Brazilian really is this team’s heartbeat.

Last season was a bruising domestic campaign, one in which Newcastle finished a disappointing 12th in the Premier League, but Guimaraes tellingly still emerged with some credit as the club’s player of the year.

The midfielder repeatedly popped up with openers, equalisers and winners in his best ever goalscoring season (9).

Newcastle, understandably, don’t want to lose him.

They had to become better sellers but simply cannot afford for Guimaraes, Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak to depart in the space of just a year.

What sort of message would that send?

After missing out on Spain forward Victor Munoz, who opted to join Liverpool, Newcastle need a breakthrough of their own in the transfer market.

They have to signal some form of ambition again - not least to the players they currently have.

Brentford in talks to hold Shakhtar's Champions League matches

Brentford are in talks with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk over hosting their Champions League fixtures at the Gtech Community Stadium for the forthcoming season.

Shakhtar will directly enter the league phase of the 2026-27 competition.

Initially, they had qualified for the third qualifying round but were moved into the league phase due to Champions League winners Paris St-Germain already qualifying through winning Ligue 1.

Due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Shakhtar have been playing their European matches outside of their home stadium. Last year, their home matches were played across Ljubljana, Slovenia and Krakow, Poland.

BBC Sport understands that discussions are ongoing between Shakhtar and Brentford over potentially holding their Champions League matches in west London.

A Shakhtar official said, “Shakhtar is currently negotiating with several venues in the United Kingdom and Germany in order to secure a host stadium for its Uefa Champions League matches next season. We will not comment on the process until a decision is announced in the near future.”

Brentford’s home stadium complies with Uefa’s regulations on stadia hosting Champions League matches and it is understood Uefa would have no issue with this taking place, providing local authorities permit it.

Brentford have been known to rent out their stadium for non-England international friendly matches, the World Sevens Football (a female seven-a-side tournament) and generally consider this option an important additional revenue stream.

With Chelsea and Tottenham both failing to qualify for Europe, Arsenal and Crystal Palace are the only London clubs set to feature across European competitions in 2026-27.

Palace’s fixtures are likely to be played solely on Thursdays, barring any changes, due to being in the Europa League.

Like Shakhtar, Arsenal’s matches in the Champions League are likely to rotate between Tuesdays and Wednesdays and there will be fewer London-based scheduling issues to contend with than in previous seasons.

During the 2021 Women’s European Championships, played a year later due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Gtech Community Stadium hosted four matches including Germany’s quarter-final win over Austria.

It has since hosted a 2023 international friendly between Australia’s and New Zealand’s men’s side, the 2025 Unity Cup and in May, the 2026 edition of the Women’s World Sevens football tournament.

Brentford in talks to host Shakhtar's Champions League matches

Brentford are in talks with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk over hosting their Champions League fixtures at the Gtech Community Stadium for the forthcoming season.

Shakhtar will directly enter the league phase of the 2026-27 competition.

Initially, they had qualified for the third qualifying round but were moved into the league phase due to Champions League winners Paris St-Germain already qualifying through winning Ligue 1.

Due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Shakhtar have been playing their European matches outside of their home stadium. Last year, their home matches were played across Ljubljana, Slovenia and Krakow, Poland.

BBC Sport understands that discussions are ongoing between Shakhtar and Brentford over potentially holding their Champions League matches in west London.

A Shakhtar official said, “Shakhtar is currently negotiating with several venues in the United Kingdom and Germany in order to secure a host stadium for its Uefa Champions League matches next season. We will not comment on the process until a decision is announced in the near future.”

Brentford’s home stadium complies with Uefa’s regulations on stadia hosting Champions League matches and it is understood Uefa would have no issue with this taking place, providing local authorities permit it.

Brentford have been known to rent out their stadium for non-England international friendly matches, the World Sevens Football (a female seven-a-side tournament) and generally consider this option an important additional revenue stream.

With Chelsea and Tottenham both failing to qualify for Europe, Arsenal and Crystal Palace are the only London clubs set to feature across European competitions in 2026-27.

Palace’s fixtures are likely to be played solely on Thursdays, barring any changes, due to being in the Europa League.

Like Shakhtar, Arsenal’s matches in the Champions League are likely to rotate between Tuesdays and Wednesdays and there will be fewer London-based scheduling issues to contend with than in previous seasons.

During the 2021 Women’s European Championships, played a year later due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Gtech Community Stadium hosted four matches including Germany’s quarter-final win over Austria.

It has since hosted a 2023 international friendly between Australia’s and New Zealand’s men’s side, the 2025 Unity Cup and in May, the 2026 edition of the Women’s World Sevens football tournament.