Sunderland sent scouts to watch £8.7m target in Europa League clash
Sunderland have sent scouts to watch a player they were willing to pay £24million to bring to the Stadium of Light in the summer.
Sunderland invested heavily in the summer following their promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs.
The Black Cats were cast aside as an afterthought, given that each of the last six teams promoted from England’s second-tier have suffered instant relegations.
But six games into the 2025-26 season, Sunderland sit fifth in the Premier League table, having lost just once following their return to the top flight.
Regis Le Bris‘ side’s recruitment was impeccable in the transfer window, with Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete making an instant impact, and the Black Cats could be about to swoop for another player they targeted in the summer.
Sunderland send scouts to watch Jhon Lucumi vs Aston Villa
Sunderland made an offer worth €28m (£24m) for Jhon Lucumi in the summer, but Bologna refused to part ways with the Colombia international.
The 27-year-old has been an integral part of the Italian side’s ascent up the Serie A pecking order, and Roma held an interest in signing the defender last summer.
According to Italian publication Corriere Dello Sport, Sunderland sent scouts to watch Lucumi play in Bologna’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Thursday, 25 September.
The Serie A side are reportedly keen to keep the defender and made a contract offer to him several weeks ago, but the ex-Genk man is yet to respond.
Lucumi set to be available for cut-price fee in January
The priority of signing a centre-back has been pushed way down the pecking order thanks to Mukiele and Alderete‘s strong starts to life in the North East.
However, signing Lucumi in January may be too good an opportunity to pass up on, thanks to an exit clause in his contract.
In an interview with Quotidiano Sportivo, an Italian publication, Bologna‘s sporting director Renato Villa revealed that the 27-year-old could leave the club in January for just €10m (£8.7m).
Whilst there is no need for him right now, left-footed centre-backs are a rare and sought-after commodity in world football.
Lucumi was keen to join in the summer, and if the opportunity arises, Sunderland would be well advised to snap up the talented defender.