Peter Schmeichel urges Manchester United to sign Granit Xhaka as the leadership void grows louder
Manchester United are in desperate need of experienced leaders in the middle of the pitch, and club legend Peter Schmeichel has made a strong case for Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka to fill that gap before the 2026/27 season starts. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Schmeichel called for United to go after Xhaka, who moved to Sunderland on 30 July 2025 on a three-year deal for a fee reported to be around £13 million plus add-ons.
Schmeichel argued that the Swiss captain has the kind of leadership DNA that United are missing right now, pointing out that, beyond Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, the squad doesn’t have much real authority on the pitch. He noted that with Casemiro leaving and younger players like Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson still being untested, United need a proven figure to steady the ship and help guide Kobbie Mainoo‘s growth.
“Xhaka is the reason they are where they are,” Schmeichel said, giving him credit for Sunderland’s impressive Premier League run. Xhaka has played 28 times for Sunderland this season, picking up 1 goal and 5 assists while starting 26 of those matches.
Sunderland made him captain before the season even began, which shows exactly how much authority he carries. His presence on the field, his passing, and his vocal leadership have really lifted the newly promoted side, even if his 5 yellow cards this season show that the same old temperament issues are still there.
I think we should go and sign Xhaka. I make my case, what we are going to do is build the team around Kobbie, right. Now Casemiro is leaving. Now you bring in somebody like [Adam] Wharton, [Elliot] Anderson whatever… that’s still young, that’s still untried. What we need and what we don’t really have apart from Harry [Maguire] and Bruno [Fernandes] in that team is proper leadership.”
“When I look at what Xhaka’s done for Sunderland, Xhaka is the reason they are where they are,” Schmeichel added. “He has been absolutely amazing, his leadership qualities are great, he can play 80 per cent of the games, he’s a really good player. We’re desperate for more leadership.”
Three Things that went unnoticed in Manchester United vs Liverpool
Would Xhaka solve the right problem or simply delay Manchester United’s rebuild?
Manchester United have put aside £80 million specifically to find a replacement for Casemiro, with players like Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba, and Adam Wharton all on the radar. Xhaka, now 33 and valued at roughly £14.8 million, would cost much less than those other options. However, bringing him in would mean putting faith in a player in his mid-thirties to mentor the team rather than lead a long-term rebuild.
Manchester United need both experience and a player who can stay for years, and Xhaka offers only the experience. His passing, positioning, and ability to read the game are still top-tier, but his injury history and the fact that he is slowing down physically are genuine worries for a club heading into the Champions League next season.
Arsenal handed huge injury boost before Atletico Madrid clash
Schmeichel’s point about leadership is spot on. Gary Neville has also mentioned that United have to sign two central midfielders this summer to address the gap left by Casemiro. Xhaka could be a smart, cost-effective addition alongside a more energetic main signing like Baleba or Anderson, rather than being the only solution. Manchester United should definitely take Schmeichel’s advice to heart, even if they decide to look for that profile in someone other than Xhaka.
[…] Manchester United have been told to immediately complete the signing of this Ex-Arsenal star […]