Bologna ‘to consider allowing’ Jhon Lucumí exit after Sunderland approach blocked | OneFootball

Bologna chief executive Claudio Fenucci says the club promised Jhon Lucumí they would consider a summer move after stopping a late switch last year.

“A year ago, we couldn’t sell him at the end of the transfer window, but we promised him that this year, given a suitable offer, we’d make it happen,” he told Pallone nel 7.

Sunderland had explored a deal during the previous window as Régis Le Bris sought defensive reinforcements, but Bologna refused to sanction a departure because there was too little time to replace him.

The remarks point to a possible opening in the current window, although any bidder would still need to meet Bologna’s valuation. Lucumí is under contract and remains important to the Serie A side, so the club are not under pressure to sell cheaply.

“The transfer window hasn’t really taken off yet, and if it didn’t for Lucumi either, we’d be happy to keep him,” he added.

Sunderland continue to assess defensive options, particularly left-sided and left-footed profiles, with Premier League, domestic cup and European demands increasing the need for depth.

Source: Sunderland Echo