Jhon Lucumi to present Omar Alderete dilemma as Sunderland links resurface
Jhon Lucumi has again been linked with a move to Sunderland ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Colombian was heavily linked with a move to the Stadium of Light in the previous summer, but Bologna’s unwillingness to sanction his exit saw any deal stall.
Instead, Lucumi stayed in the Serie A, and Sunderland pursued other centre-back options, with Omar Alderete, Nordi Mukiele and Lutsharel Geertruida.
All three have impressed for the Black Cats in the Premier League, with Alderete in particular having been a key addition to their squad.
However, with Lucumi linked with Sunderland again, it could cause a dilemma.
How does Jhon Lucumi compare to Omar Alderete?
Lucumi’s underlying stats from the previous campaign made him a very exciting target for Sunderland, and one that would certainly have improved their defence at the time.
But now, with links having resurfaced, would he still be able to achieve that? The stats suggest so, but not in all areas.
| Premier League | Alderete |
| Games | 27 |
| Dribbles completed | 15 |
| Duels won | 121 |
| Duel win rate | 54% |
| Dribbled past | 7 |
Regis Le Bris has instructed Sunderland to play the ball from the back, and with a 89.2 per cent pass accuracy, and an average of 56 passes per game, Lucumi can do just that.
In comparison, Alderete has an 82.2 per cent completion rate, with an average of just 33.96 per game, which is considerably fewer.
However, where Alderete thrives is in his ability to carry the ball out from the back, as showcased by his 15 completed dribbles, compared to Lucumi’s four.
Otherwise, the two are very similar profiles, playing in very different environments.
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Verdict: Would Lucumi be an upgrade on Alderete?
On face value, yes, but not by much.
Both players have their own strengths, while they both have their own weaknesses, with neither particularly strong in duels.
Depending on the fee involved, it may still prove to be a smart signing by the Black Cats should they proceed with a deal.
Lucumi had a £24million release clause which expired last summer, but a deal valued any lower than that would almost certainly be good business.
As of right now, the 27-year-old will have just one year left on his contract at Bologna come the end of the season, meaning they will not be able to hold particularly firm on asking for a high fee.