Trai Hume cools Real Madrid links amid ‘monitoring’ claim | OneFootball

Trai Hume has played down surprise links to Real Madrid while on Northern Ireland duty. He said he had seen the story but had not thought much of it.

Spanish outlet Defensa Central claims the Sunderland right-back is among low-cost right-sided options being monitored as Real assess cover and competition for Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of the summer window, amid the expected exit of long-serving Dani Carvajal.

The report also cited Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong, Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, Brighton’s Matt Wieffer and Monaco’s Vanderson, and suggested Hume could cost about €22 million, roughly £19 million. It feels unlikely at this point, though inclusion in that company underlines his growing reputation.

Hume was one of Sunderland’s most consistent performers under Régis Le Bris, playing every league game last season as the Black Cats finished seventh in the Premier League. His versatility has seen him operate across the back line and higher up the pitch.

He came through Ballymena United and Linfield, making his senior debut for Linfield in April 2019. A loan at hometown club Ballymena brought 37 appearances and six goals before he established himself as Linfield’s first-choice right-back.

Sunderland signed Hume in January 2022 on a four-and-a-half-year deal. He debuted in a 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham Town a month later, became a regular in 2022-23, then signed fresh terms in 2023 before a long-term contract after promotion, keeping him at the club until summer 2030.

This season he scored his first Premier League goal in a 4-3 loss to Aston Villa. He then netted the opener in the 2-1 win over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light, a result that secured Sunderland’s first European qualification since 1973-74.

Source: Sunderland Echo