Trai Hume plays down Real Madrid talk amid Northern Ireland duty | OneFootball

Trai Hume has downplayed surprise links to Real Madrid after the Sunderland defender was quizzed while on Northern Ireland duty.

Defensa Central claims Real are monitoring the right-back as a low-cost option while assessing cover and competition for Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Dani Carvajal expected to depart. The same report also named Josh Acheampong, Givairo Read, Matt Wieffer and Vanderson, and suggested Hume could cost around €22million, roughly £19million.

He had seen the story but had not given it much thought, keeping the focus on his international duties.

Any move appears unlikely at this stage, yet being mentioned in that company underlines how quickly his profile has grown.

He was ever-present in the league under Régis Le Bris as Sunderland finished seventh and qualified for the Europa League.

Naturally a right-back, he has also filled roles across the defence and further forward.

Sunderland signed him from Linfield in January 2022, he earned a new deal in 2023 and later agreed a long-term contract to 2030 after promotion to the Premier League.

He scored his first Premier League goal in the 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa, then opened the scoring in the 2-1 win over Chelsea that sealed Sunderland’s first European qualification since 1973-74.

Source: Sunderland Echo