The latest episode of The Roar podcast, brought to you by the Sunderland Echo, is available now

BBC Radio Newcastle commentator Nick Barnes has poured cold water over the notion of Granit Xhaka leaving Sunderland to complete a sensational January transfer to Italian giants Juventus.

In an unexpected - and slightly bizarre - development, continental publication TuttoSport ran a front page story this week suggesting that the Turin club were interested in signing the Swiss midfielder during the summer window, while also suggesting that they could rekindle their pursuit in the new year.

But given how well Xhaka has performed on Wearside since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, and how committed he seems to Sunderland’s cause following their stellar opening to the new Premier League campaign, it is a piece of speculation that has the distinct feeling of being a non-starter - and Barnes is inclined to agree.

What has Nick Barnes said about Granit Xhaka Sunderland exit rumours?

Speaking as a guest on the latest episode of The Roar podcast - brought to you by the Sunderland Echo - when asked about Juve’s reported interest in Xhaka, the popular radio personality said: “I can't see Xhaka going anywhere. He's seemingly loving life at Sunderland. He's got a project, which was one of the reasons he came on board with Sunderland, because he bought into what Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is trying to do. And the season started so well that I can't, for the life of me, see for one minute why he'd want to leave.

“He's moved his family here. He's settled. He's enjoying it. The football's good. Why would he move? So I think, yeah, you can file that one away. I'd be amazed if anything developed in that respect, and certainly the club aren't going to let him go. So I think, yeah, pure speculation and wishful thinking on Juventus' behalf.”

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

Reflecting on Xhaka’s arrival in the North East, and his prospects for the future, Barnes added: “I mean, it is an extraordinary story. And when you hear the background to it, and the fact that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus just wouldn't give up, he was determined to try and get Xhaka to come to Sunderland. But it says a lot about the vision that Kyril has for the club. It says, I think, a lot about Xhaka's ambitions as well, because I think we all understand he's doing his coaching badges. It's the road he wants to go down. He's being given that opportunity at Sunderland, and Regis Le Bris is very open about the fact that he's more than happy for Xhaka to be his leader on the pitch, to manage the games, to even make decisions in the game affecting formations and tactics.

“So, to give that much license to a player, I think it just proves that Xhaka has got a very big influence at Sunderland. But I think in terms of his own ambition, I'd be very, very surprised if a couple of years down the line we don't see Xhaka in a dugout somewhere as a head coach, because he's got, it seems to me, all the credentials at the moment to go down that road. And he'll have been well-versed in respect of having a mentor in that sense in Mikel Arteta, who he played with at Arsenal for four years - you know, former player, went down that road. I can see Xhaka doing the same.”

Your next Sunderland read: Kristjaan Speakman linked with incredible £72.1m Sunderland triple transfer swoop in January