Bologna confirm Lucumi talks for new contract, despite Sunderland pursuit

Despite a summer row where his agent tried to force through a transfer to Sunderland, Bologna insist they are ‘in talks to extend’ Jhon Lucumi’s contract.

The defender had been very publicly eager to end his experience at the Stadio Dall’Ara this season and make the step to the Premier League.

By the time Sunderland made a formal offer, the release clause in his current deal had already expired.

Negotiations continued and his agent voiced frustration, but Bologna were adamant they would not sell without a suitable replacement lined up.

The Colombia international remained and now the club is trying to stave off another bout of tension come January.

Bologna eager to keep Lucumi

“We are talking to Lucumi about extending his contract and we would be very happy if he was to stay,” Bologna director Giovanni Sartori told La Repubblica and Sport Mediaset.

“Whether he would be happy about that, I don’t know, you’d have to ask him. We’ll see him later on and see what he has decided.

“After having to give up on his Premier League dream in the summer, he got right back on track with great professionalism.

“I hope we won’t have to do too much on the transfer market in January, considering the squad has so much quality. Ciro Immobile will be back from injury soon, while Federico Bernardeschi is slowly settling into the team.”

The current Lucumi contract runs to June 2027 and it seems that if he still wants to move to the Premier League in future, then signing a new deal with Bologna would be unwise.

They purchased him from Belgian side KRC Genk in the summer of 2022 for €8m.