![\"Bayer](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753295239_620_0_JS370622106.jpg\")
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Erik ten Hag(Image: J\u00f6rg Sch\u00fcler\/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)<\/p>\nErik ten Hag has blocked Granit Xhaka from leaving Bayer Leverkusen this summerBayer Leverkusen head coach Erik ten Hag(Image: J\u00f6rg Sch\u00fcler\/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Erik ten Hag says Granit Xhaka will not be allowed to leave Bayer Leverkusen to join Sunderland this summer after the club lost Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz to Liverpool<\/a>. Switzerland international Xhaka was lined up for a sensational return to the Premier League<\/a> with Championship play-off winners Sunderland.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, the agent of the 32-year-old – who left Arsenal <\/a>to join Leverkusen two years ago – said his client had agreed terms with the Black Cats and was hopeful that Leverkusen would not stand in the way of a move.<\/p>\n However, Ten Hag has put a block on Xhaka’s transfer to the Stadium of Light after insisting the 2024 Bundesliga winners can’t afford to lose any more key players after the departures of Frimpong and Wirtz to Liverpool<\/a>, plus Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Eintracht Frankfurt ‘annoyed’ as Liverpool close in on \u00a379m Hugo Ekitike transfer<\/a>READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE – Alexander Isak rumours, Hugo Ekitike updates, Rodrygo latest<\/a><\/p>\n “The agent can say anything. But this club has already lost three important players,” Ten Hag said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n “We won’t let any more players go, that’s not possible. That would neglect the structure and also the culture of the squad.<\/p>\n “It’s clear – Granit is a leader, he has signed here for five years and has three years left on his contract. He’s too important for us to let him go.”<\/p>\n Liverpool moved swiftly to sign Frimpong just days after the Premier League ended as they triggered a \u00a329.5m release clause in the full-back’s contract.<\/p>\n A deal for Wirtz, however, was more complicated due to the finances, though the Reds completed the transfer of the attacking midfielder<\/a> on June 20 after agreeing a deal worth a potential \u00a3116m.<\/p>\n The best LFC news, features, videos and podcasts<\/p>\n Nobody covers Liverpool Football Club in more detail than the ECHO. Our team of reporters follows the Reds home, away and abroad and we have seven days a week coverage of everything from the first team, to the women’s team and the Academy.<\/p>\n Here’s how you can get the best LFC news on every platform:<\/p>\n Download our premium LFC App<\/strong> for exclusive content and ad-free reading. Apple here<\/a> and Android here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow us on Facebook<\/strong><\/a>, X (formerly Twitter)<\/a><\/strong> and Instagram<\/a><\/strong>. Our Blood Red brand<\/strong> is one of the top rated LFC podcasts. You can watch it on Youtube here<\/a> or search Blood Red podcasts wherever you listen. We’re also on TikTok<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Join our WhatsApp community<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>for breaking news directly to your phone as it happens and follow our WhatsApp channel for updates and the best pictures.<\/p>\n Subscribe to our newsletters<\/strong> here<\/a> for all the news directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n Subscribe to Dave Powell’s Bottom Line newsletter<\/a> <\/strong>for exclusive business of football news, features and interviews directly to your inbox<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow us on every platform here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2_Blood-Red-logo.jpg\"){kind=logo}
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