Latest on Jenson Seelt, Tyrell Malacia and Jhon Lucumí as Sunderland prepare for the summer window.
Jenson Seelt’s future appears set to lie back on Wearside this summer, with reports in Germany suggesting VfL Wolfsburg are unlikely to trigger their option to buy the Sunderland loanee.
According to Kicker, the Bundesliga side are not expected to make Seelt’s move permanent when his loan expires. The 22-year-old centre-back has made 10 appearances for Die Wölfe since joining at the end of the summer transfer window but has endured a frustrating spell disrupted by injury and illness.
Currently sidelined with a knee issue, Seelt has not featured for Wolfsburg since the start of the calendar year. While the German club hold an option to buy, it is understood that they are unlikely to activate it, meaning the defender would return to Sunderland ahead of pre-season.
Elsewhere, SportsBoom has claimed that Sunderland are monitoring Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia, whose contract is said to be nearing expiry. The 26-year-old has struggled for minutes this season, making just one senior appearance totalling two minutes. Malacia, who previously impressed at Feyenoord, is reportedly keen for regular football and the outlet suggests Sunderland could pursue a free transfer.
However, SportsBoom has proven unreliable in recent months when it comes to Sunderland-related reporting. The same publication previously claimed the Black Cats were preparing a deadline-day swoop for Everton winger Dwight McNeil - a suggestion firmly denied by well-placed Echo sources as the window drew to a close. Similarly, SportsBoom reported that Coventry City were pursuing Romaine Mundle in January, a claim consistently dismissed by club figures, including Régis Le Bris, throughout the window. As such, any links to Malacia should be treated with caution at this stage.
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In other news, Sunderland-linked defender Jhon Lucumí is reportedly moving “closer and closer” to a departure from Bologna FC after turning down two further contract extension offers. The Colombian centre-back was strongly linked with a move to Wearside during the summer transfer window, but ultimately remained in Serie A after Bologna refused to sanction a sale. His current deal runs until 2027, and the Italian club have been keen to secure his long-term future.
As recently as October, Bologna technical director Giovanni Sartori said: “We are talking to Lucumí about extending his contract and we would be very happy if he was to stay. “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.”
Despite those public efforts, speculation around Lucumí’s future has intensified in recent weeks. He was mentioned last month as a potential option for an injury-hit Manchester City, while sporadic reports continue to suggest Sunderland could reignite their interest.
However, it is The Echo’s understanding that the Black Cats currently have no plans to revive their pursuit. While Lucumí was admired previously, sources on Wearside have indicated he is not an active target at this stage, with recruitment focus having shifted elsewhere. That may not prevent his name from resurfacing in the coming months, particularly if Bologna accept his stance on a new deal. But as things stand, any renewed Sunderland move appears unlikely.
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