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Sunderland’s pursuit of Colombian defender Jhon Lucumí remains a topic of interest as Bologna struggles to secure his contract extension. Despite previous admiration from the Black Cats, recent developments suggest that a January move may not be on the cards, as Bologna prioritizes strengthening their squad.
Giovanni Sartori said: “We are talking to Lucumí about extending his contract and we would be very happy if he was to stay. Whether he would be happy about that, I don’t know, you’d have to ask him. We’ll see him later on and see what he has decided. After having to give up on his Premier League dream in the summer, he got right back on track with great professionalism. I hope we won’t have to do too much on the transfer market in January, considering the squad has so much quality.”
Matteo Dalla Vite said: “I don’t think he’ll move. My feeling is that if Bologna advances in the Europa League, the Colombian won’t have to move. It’s not a given that he wants to leave in January; at most, he’ll move in June. Bologna is expanding its squad in January with an extra defensive rotation. The club wants to move quickly, and as soon as the transfer window opens, they’ll try to close the deal.”
Despite Bologna’s efforts to retain Lucumí, reports indicate that negotiations have stalled, with his current contract running until 2027. This impasse has reignited Sunderland’s interest, although sources suggest that Lucumí is not an active target for the January transfer window. Initially, Sunderland reportedly offered around £24 million for the defender, but recent speculation suggests a reduced fee of £12 million might entice Bologna to sell.
However, as Bologna aims to bolster their defensive options, the likelihood of Lucumí’s departure in the upcoming transfer window appears slim. The club’s focus on squad expansion and their progress in the Europa League could further influence Lucumí’s decision to remain in Italy, at least until the summer.
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