Chelsea have identified Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka as a transfer target, with the club keen to reunite him with incoming manager Xabi Alonso, who worked alongside Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen.

No formal contact has yet been made between the two clubs, and Sunderland have made clear they consider Xhaka unavailable for transfer. The 33-year-old was a central figure in Sunderland's survival push last season, helping secure their Premier League status with a victory over Chelsea on the final day.

Despite his age — Xhaka turns 34 in September — Chelsea are drawn to his experience and familiarity with the Premier League. The club are understood to be exploring several midfield options and would not pay a premium for a player approaching his mid-thirties.

Sunderland brought Xhaka to the club for £13 million last summer. There had been interest from West Ham at the time, with a return to London appealing to the Swiss international, but he ultimately chose to join Sunderland.

Xabi Alonso is due to begin work as Chelsea's new manager next week. The pair enjoyed considerable success together at Bayer Leverkusen, where they won the Bundesliga — a bond Chelsea's hierarchy are hoping to leverage. Chelsea's current squad carries an average age of just 23.8, making an experienced operator like Xhaka an attractive addition.