Sunderland and Bologna at odds over Jhon Lucumí as January approaches

Sunderland and Bologna remain at odds over the future of Colombia defender Jhon Lucumí as the January transfer window approaches, with reports split over whether the Premier League club will renew its pursuit of the 27‑year‑old. Lucumí, a regular starter for Bologna this season, is under contract until the summer of 2027, and both sides are contending with competing assessments of his availability and Sunderland's intent.

Lucumí moved to Bologna from Genk in 2022 and has made more than 100 appearances for the Serie A club. He has featured consistently this season and played for Colombia during the recent international break, scoring in a 4-0 win over Mexico, according to match reports. Bologna has opened talks on a contract extension, but those negotiations have been described as complex, leaving the club exposed to transfer interest if an agreement is not reached.

Accounts differ over Sunderland's stance. Several reports said the club remained interested and had lodged offers in the region of 24 million to 30 million euros and proposed wages reportedly around 2.6 million to 3 million euros per season. Those reports suggested the player's agent has been pushing for a move to the...