The Black Cats are reportedly among several clubs monitoring a soon-to-be Premier League free agent this summer
Sunderland are reportedly among a host of clubs monitoring Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, though Spanish giants Barcelona are said to be leading the race for his signature.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the 28-year-old centre-back is set to leave the Vitality Stadium at the end of the season after informing the club he will not sign a new contract. Senesi is due to become a free agent this summer, a situation that has inevitably attracted widespread interest.
TEAMtalk claim that Sunderland have registered interest in the Argentine and have held discussions with his representatives, alongside Premier League sides including Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United. Chelsea are also said to have explored the situation in recent months, though those talks are described as preliminary.
Senesi joined Bournemouth from Feyenoord in 2022 and has been a consistent presence in their back line. This season he has started every Premier League game he has been available for, helping the Cherries keep five clean sheets in 25 league appearances while also contributing four assists from defence. However, the strongest interest is believed to be coming from abroad. TEAMtalk report that Atletico Madrid have made their admiration clear, while Italian clubs Juventus and Napoli have also shown interest.
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Barcelona, though, are described as the club pushing hardest at this stage. The report suggests the La Liga side have stepped up negotiations in recent weeks and are preparing a proposal that is viewed as particularly attractive by the player’s camp. A source cited by TEAMtalk is quoted as saying: “There is a lot of interest in Marcos, but when Barcelona are interested, that is tough to ignore. He has not ruled out anything as yet, but fair to say Barca is a huge lure.”
For Sunderland, any move would likely depend on how their own defensive plans take shape this summer. The Black Cats are expected to reassess their options at cross the squad and centre-back, particularly with the increased demands of Premier League competition and the need for depth across the squad. As it stands, Barcelona appear to be leading the chase for Senesi’s signature. But with the defender available on a free transfer, interest from England - including from Sunderland - is unlikely to disappear quickly.
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