‘Sunderland face Jhon Lucumi rejection’ after major new transfer update
Sunderland are now unlikely to land the signing of Jhon Lucumi from Bologna.
It has been relatively smooth sailing for Sunderland so far in the transfer window, with multiple impressive signings already joining Regis Le Bris in the north east.
With Kristjaan Speakman insisting that several more additions are still expected at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats look to have a fighting chance at avoiding relegation upon their Premier League return.
However, with Lucumi now unlikely to become the latest addition to this exciting Sunderland project, they will be forced into alternative targets.
Lucumi rejects Sunderland approach amid Champions League aspirations
Granit Xhaka has emerged as another ambitious target for Kyril-Louis Dreyfus and Co., with the former Arsenal midfielder approached by the Wearsiders amid competition from the Saudi Pro League.
Sunderland’s midfield and forward line have received the bulk of the attention so far, but that looked set to change with Lucumi being a defensive target for director of football Florent Ghisolfi.
However, according to 1000 Cuori Rossoblu (16 July), the Colombian defender has rejected approaches from both Sunderland and Bournemouth, with the 27-year-old favouring a move to a team playing in Europe, preferably the Champions League.
| Jhon Lucumi | Serie A stats (2024/25 season) |
| Appearences | 32 |
| Clean sheets | 10 |
| Interceptions per game | 0.8 |
| Tackles per game | 1.7 |
| Clearences per game | 2.6 |
Aston Villa, Roma and Juventus seem like the more feasible destinations for Lucumi if he is to leave Bologna in the summer, with the defender set to cost around £21.7million.
Unrealistic for Sunderland to land every target in the window
Despite Sunderland’s summer transfer business being exceptional so far, it was always going to be natural that they missed out on some of their targets.
Mackems thought this was also the case when they saw that Jordan Henderson had moved to Brentford.
However, it was revealed that Sunderland were never in the running to bring the England international back to the Stadium of Light, with more impressive signings already made.
Despite all the business they have conducted so far, Sunderland’s squad is still valued at the lowest in the Premier League.
Sunderland need to continue to strengthen if they want to upset the odds and avoid the drop, even if that means replacing players like Anthony Patterson, who performed so well for the Black Cats in the Championship.
It’s time to move on from Lucumi, with no time to dwell.
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