Why this €23m Super Eagles star is Sunderland’s best replacement for Chelsea-linked Xhaka

English Premier League club Chelsea have been linked with a transfer for Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, Afrik-Foot reports.

​According to reports from Florian Plettenberg and Fabrizio Romano, Xhaka appears to be keen on the move, and it could be finalized in the coming days.

​This transfer does not come as a surprise, as Xhaka was integral to Xabi Alonso’s setup when he was at Bayer Leverkusen. Now, he will be looking to play a vital role at Chelsea under his former boss next season.

​Meanwhile, Xhaka’s exit from Sunderland will create a significant void. He joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, and he proved to be a key player for them, stamping his authority in the middle of the park.

​As a result, the Black Cats will have to make a signing to bolster their midfield this summer. Of course, as a smaller club, they may struggle to attract the biggest stars. However, Afrik-Foot believes this Super Eagles midfielder could be a great addition for the Premier League club.

​Who is the Super Eagles Midfielder That Sunderland Should Sign?

​With Granit Xhaka leaving Sunderland, a void has been created that Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika could fill.

​Onyedika has enjoyed significant growth in his career over the last four years, since his transfer from FC Midtjylland. That progress has seen him linked with many other clubs in recent years.

​But this might just be the opportunity to snap the Nigerian up. As it stands, Onyedika has just one year left on his Club Brugge contract, and it appears that he is unwilling to sign an extension.

​This means that it will be easier to convince him to join, and Club Brugge will be open to negotiations, since they do not want to lose one of their most prized assets for free.

​Onyedika offers solidity, high technical acumen, and much more. He is very good on the half-turn and knows how to take advantage of small pockets of space.

​In addition, Onyedika is a good passer of the ball and knows how to dictate play. His brilliance was even noted by coach Diego Simeone during the UEFA Champions League last season.

​Moreover, he is at a prime age of 25, which means he can still tweak a few things in his game to survive the high demands of the Premier League.

​Onyedika is currently valued at €23 million on Transfermarkt, a price that Sunderland will be able to afford comfortably. It is now left to be seen whether they will make the transfer call soon.