Xhaka 'probably Signing Of The Season' - Rooney

Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney says Sunderland skipper Granit Xhaka is "probably nan signing of nan season".

The Black Cats person been superb connected their return to nan Premier League and presently beryllium 4th aft 11 games pinch 19 points, putting them good connected nan measurement to securing their superior nonsubjective of staying up this season.

Former Arsenal midfielder Xhaka has been a cardinal facet successful Sunderland's beardown commencement acknowledgment to his acquisition and activity skills.

He has played each infinitesimal of each their convention games, scoring erstwhile and providing 3 assists.

This play he leads nan measurement for nan Sunderland successful position of assists, chances created, touches, successful passes, duels won, possession won and region covered.

The 33-year-old was 1 of respective summertime signings pursuing promotion from nan Championship, joining from Bayer Leverkusen for an first £13m.

Rooney said connected The Wayne Rooney Show: "Coming backmost to nan Premier League you wonderment if he tin do it. Obviously pinch a promoted squad arsenic good coming up, what effect could he have?

"But he's astir apt been nan signing of nan season. He has been brilliant."

Xhaka made 297 appearances for Arsenal, winning 2 FA Cups.

But he was thing of a pantomime villain - and sometimes much-maligned - astatine nan Gunners.

He was sent disconnected 5 times for Arsenal and spent six weeks arsenic skipper successful 2019, clashed pinch his ain fans and was stripped of nan armband.

But things went amended nether Mikel Arteta and he became an important subordinate earlier leaving successful 2023 for Leverkusen, wherever he helped them to their first Bundesliga title during his opening season.

"When he had nan business pinch Arsenal, erstwhile he fell retired pinch nan fans it showed his characteristic to spell and play for Arsenal again," Rooney added.

"To get done that and past spell and execute for Arsenal, and past astatine Leverkusen to beryllium portion of a squad to hit Bayern Munich to nan title for nan first clip successful complete 10 years has shown what a bully subordinate he is.

"Sunderland person sewage a very young squad arsenic well. He'd almost beryllium for illustration a begetter fig and he'll beryllium a large thief for nan coach arsenic good to beryllium nan in-between man arsenic captain.

"And they made a batch of signings successful nan summer, he'll beryllium a monolithic thief for nan head and pinch them players, for sure, utilizing his experience."