Sunderland has made an improved offer to sign Bologna defender Jhon Lucumí, as per transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
The Black Cats have been eyeing the Colombian international for some time now, but Bologna has been stubborn in their refusal to let him go.
Despite this, Lucumí remains a top target for Sunderland as the transfer window nears its end, and a recent report from Romano suggests that they have upped their bid in hopes of convincing Bologna to sell.
In a post on X, Romano wrote: “Sunderland have submitted an improved bid to Bologna for Jhon Lucumí worth €28m [£24m] plus a 10% sell-on clause. SAFC are keen on Lucumí, but Bologna is adamant on keeping the Colombian center back.” The response from Bologna to this latest offer is still uncertain.
Regarding Lucumí’s transfer situation amidst Sunderland’s interest, Romano’s update follows a series of speculations in the past few days. Bologna CEO Claudio Fenucci recently reiterated the club’s stance on not selling the 27-year-old.
He said: “We want to keep our players, even though we understand that certain offers can be tempting, especially from the Premier League. Jhon expressed his desire to leave, but due to timing issues, it didn’t happen. The conditions are not right for us to find a replacement now, so Jhon will remain with us.”
Despite Bologna’s firm stance, Lucumí’s representatives have stressed the player’s eagerness to secure a transfer in the coming days. In a statement, his agent mentioned the disappointment felt by both sides, as their initial plan was for a short stay which has now extended.
The agent said: “We hoped to find a balanced solution for all parties involved. If the right offer comes along, we hope Bologna can reflect on it and make a positive decision.”
