Sunderland ‘to revisit’ Jhon Lucumí pursuit as Bologna weigh sale | OneFootball

Sunderland could revisit their interest in Bologna defender Jhon Lucumí this summer as they assess defensive options, Gazzetta dello Sport reports.

Sunderland made the 28-year-old a leading target last summer, but Bologna refused to sell after early-window departures. Even after the defender's agent urged the club to reconsider, Sunderland gave up the pursuit, and club sources later dismissed talk of a January move.

Lucumí now has one year left on his contract and has turned down extension offers, which makes a sale more likely in this window.

The pursuit sits within a wider defensive shake-up overseen by Florent Ghisolfi. Sassuolo centre-back Tarik Muharemović is a target and is expected to leave this summer, with interest from other Premier League sides and Juventus.

The 23-year-old featured three times for Bosnia at this summer's World Cup, and Juventus hold a 50% sell-on clause following his sale to Sassuolo a year ago. Lucumí is viewed as an alternative if Sunderland cannot land Muharemović, and both defenders have attracted long-standing interest from current Serie A champions Inter Milan.

Source: Sunderland Echo