Sunderland ‘linked with’ £39m double deal as Lutsharel Geertruida twist and Dan Neil update | OneFootball

Sunderland are being linked with a £39m double raid abroad, with fresh developments on Lutsharel Geertruida and Dan Neil as Florent Ghisolfi shapes a pivotal summer.

Reports in Italy say Sunderland are among the clubs eyeing Bayer Leverkusen winger Kerim Alajbegovic, with Roma renewing contacts after Gian Piero Gasperini’s approval. In Brazil, local reports add that Sunderland have enquired about Grêmio defender Viery. De Telegraaf reports that Geertruida would have considered a Feyenoord return only if Robin van Persie had stayed. TEAMtalk claims Hull City are weighing up a move for Neil.

Alajbegovic, 18, shone with Salzburg and Bosnia’s youth sides last season, prompting Leverkusen to trigger their buy-back. His price is put at around €30 million, about £25.9 million, and he is said to be attracted by working under Gasperini.

Sunderland are also credited with enquiries for Viery, with Roma, Tottenham, Newcastle and Brighton among other admirers, and Fiorentina and Juventus said to have had approaches rejected. Grêmio want more than €15 million, around £13 million, plus a sell-on, and the 21-year-old has 27 appearances and two goals while covering centre-back and left-back.

Elsewhere, Oxford United, Wigan and York are competing for young defender Zak Johnson, who impressed on loan at York in a promotion season. Geertruida’s loan from RB Leipzig has ended and a Feyenoord return now looks less likely after the managerial change, while Neil’s future appears set to be decided amid rival interest.

Source: Sunderland Echo