Sunderland preparing bid for Bologna defender Lucumi | OneFootball

Reports in Italy and the UK claim that Sunderland are preparing to submit an offer to Bologna for Colombia international centre-back Jhon Lucumi.

Reports Sunderland preparing offer for Bologna’s Lucumi

Sunderland, whose director of football is former Roma executive Florent Ghisolfi, have been in contact with Bologna over the last 24 hours to discuss a potential deal for Lucumi according to reports from the likes of Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano.

Multiple outlets are reporting that Sunderland are preparing to launch a formal offer for the 27-year-old, who will be into the final year of his Rossoblu contract in 2025-26.

MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 22: Jhon Lucumi of Bologna FC in action during the Serie A match between Monza and Bologna at U-Power Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Updates from Ekrem Konur confirm that Sunderland are preparing to offer an initial bid in excess of €20m for the former Genk defender.

Roma, Aston Villa and Galatasaray are also among the clubs said to be interested in a potential deal for Lucumi this summer.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 09: Luka Jovic of AC Milan controls the ball whilst under pressure from Jhon Lucumi of Bologna during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Lucumi, who has 29 international caps to his name, has been a mainstay at the heart of the Bologna defence over the last two seasons, playing in 29 Serie A matches (and missing six through injury) as Bologna sealed an historic qualification to the Champions League in 2023-24. That was achieved while competing with Riccardo Calafiori and the Napoli-bound Sam Beukema at centre-back.

He also started in 32 league fixtures and featured in seven out of Bologna’s eight Champions League matches in 2024-25.