Sunderland, Barcelona and Bournemouth 'to move for' Jhon Lucumi in £22m summer chase | OneFootball

Il Resto del Carlino reports that Sunderland remain in contention to sign Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi this summer, with Barcelona and Bournemouth also in the race. A fee of around £22m is being discussed.

The Black Cats are said to have held a long-term interest and made an approach after a release clause expired, which Bologna rejected. Sunderland then cooled their pursuit in January after failing to strike a deal last summer.

Lucumi’s future remains unclear. He has enjoyed a strong Serie A campaign but has not committed to fresh terms, with his current contract running to 2027, and his representatives are exploring options elsewhere as Bologna weigh a sale to protect value.

Barcelona are monitoring him as a more attainable option than Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni, while Bournemouth are assessing him as they look at replacements for Marcos Senesi. Fenerbahce and Galatasaray are also credited with strong interest and have the means to compete.

Bologna are believed to be factoring the upcoming World Cup into their strategy, with a good tournament likely to increase his valuation. For Sunderland, the growing calibre of suitors, and Lucumi’s European experience and consistency in Italy, could make any pursuit more complex.

Source: Sunderland Echo