Bologna turn down bid and set asking price for Sunderland-linked Jhon Lucumí - transfer reports
Transfer speculation continues to surround long-term Sunderland target Jhon Lucumí.
Bologna have reportedly set their asking price for defender Jhon Lucumí after rejecting an offer from Turkish giants Besiktas for the Sunderland-linked star.
The Colombian has been repeatedly touted as a target for the Black Cats over course of the past year, but their efforts to prise him away from his current employers were ultimately shutdown last summer after the Serie A outfit refused to sell.
It would appear that the prospect of an exit could be back on the table, however, with Bologna chief executive Claudio Fenucci confirming in a recent interview with Pallone nel 7, via Il Resto del Carlino, that Lucumí was given assurances regarding his future after his proposed move to Sunderland was blocked.
He said: “A year ago, we couldn’t sell him at the end of the transfer window, but we promised him that this year, given a suitable offer, we’d make it happen.”
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For their part, however, Bologna still seem determined to hold out for a decent fee. As per continental reporter Nicolo Schira, the club have turned down a bid of around £12.8 million for Lucumí, and are instead demanding a package worth somewhere in the region of £21.3 million. Schira goes on to claim that a number of unnamed Serie A and Premier League sides are monitoring his situation.
On Wearside, Sunderland’s recruitment team continue to assess potential defensive additions, especially left-sided and footed options, with the additional demands of Premier League, domestic cup, and European football increasing the need for depth.