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Sunderland’s Bold £19m Move for Bologna’s Defensive Star Jhon Lucumi Faces Hurdles
In the bustling world of summer التحويلات, سندرلاند has thrown its hat into the ring with a substantial £19 million offer for Bologna‘s standout Colombian defender Jhon Lucumi, aiming to bolster their backline for the upcoming campaign. This ambitious bid highlights the Black Cats’ determination to secure top talent, but Bologna’s recent squad shake-ups could complicate matters, potentially derailing the deal amid their efforts to maintain defensive stability.
- Sunderland launch £19m offer for defender Lucumi
- Bologna hesitant to release following departures of Ndoye and Beukema
- Rossoblu extend player’s deal through 2027
Sunderland’s Ambitious Pursuit of Jhon Lucumi Amid Transfer Window Drama
Reports from trusted sources indicate that Sunderland has tabled a hefty £19 million ($25m) proposal for Bologna’s key center-back Jhon Lucumi, with eyes on integrating the skilled Colombian into their lineup before the season kicks off. Yet, this initiative is encountering pushback, as Bologna grapples with the loss of vital defensive players, making them cautious about further weakening their roster.
Bologna’s Defensive Dilemma After Key Departures
The Italian club has already bid farewell to defender Sam Beukema, who joined Napoli, and forward Dan Ndoye, who moved to نوتنغهام فورست in a deal worth around €40 million (£34m/$43.5m) including add-ons. These sales have generated over €70 million (£60m/$76m) for Bologna this transfer period, a figure that aligns with recent trends in الدوري الإيطالي where clubs like them have cashed in on assets amid rising market values-evidenced by the league’s total summer spending surpassing €1 billion as of August 2024. CEO Claudio Fenucci is now prioritizing the preservation of what was one of Italy’s most robust defenses last season, showing little enthusiasm for parting with Lucumi. Sunderland’s package, which سمات an attractive €3 million annual salary, hasn’t swayed the Rossoblu, who hold the upper hand with the player’s contract now extended to 2027 via a one-year option they activated.
A €28 million (£24m/$31m) buyout clause was available earlier this summer until mid-July, but it went unused, leaving Bologna firmly in charge. This scenario echoes cases like انتر Milan’s handling of key players, where clubs opt to retain talent rather than risk mid-season disruptions.
Insights from Bologna’s Leadership on Transfer Strategy
During a recent event introducing new signing Federico Bernardeschi, Fenucci outlined the club’s position: “We’re not planning additional significant outgoing deals. Discussions with Jhon are ongoing; his agreement spans two more years, and we might address an extension soon or post-window. The release clause was a big discussion point before, but without activation, our approach to players like Ndoye would have shifted differently.”
Competition and Future Prospects for Lucumi’s Transfer
So far, Sunderland stands alone with a firm bid, even as clubs like Galatasaray, Roma, أستون فيلا, and Wolves have shown prior curiosity. Lucumi’s representatives recently scouted possibilities in إسبانيا with teams such as Villarreal and أتلتيكو مدريد, but nothing concrete emerged. Bologna remains steadfast, though should Lucumi decline a new contract, a discounted exit next year-potentially below current valuations-could become a reality, especially with global defender transfer fees averaging around £20 million for similar profiles in 2024 per recent market analyses.
