Real Madrid ‘monitoring’ Trai Hume, but Sunderland defender plays down talk | OneFootball

Trai Hume has played down surprise links to Real Madrid after the Sunderland defender was asked about the speculation while on Northern Ireland duty.

Defensa Central claims Hume is among right-sided options Madrid are monitoring as they assess potential low-cost cover and competition for Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of the summer window.

“Obviously, I seen it, but I didn't really think too much of it to be honest,” Hume said at a Northern Ireland press conference.

The report listed Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong, Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, Brighton’s Matt Wieffer and Monaco’s Vanderson alongside Hume, and suggested a price of around €22million, roughly £19million. Any move looks unlikely at this stage, although the mention underlines his growing reputation.

Hume was ever-present in the league last season under Régis Le Bris as Sunderland claimed a historic seventh-placed Premier League finish. Naturally a right-back, he has filled several roles across the back line and further forward.

Signed from Linfield in January 2022, he earned a contract extension in 2023 and a new long-term deal after promotion, keeping him at the club until 2030. This season he scored his first Premier League goal in a 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa, then netted the opener in the 2-1 win over Chelsea that sealed European qualification for the first time since 1973-74.

Source: Sunderland Echo