The latest transfer talk from Sunderland as the Black Cats prepare for the summer transfer window.
Sunderland are ‘close’ to agreeing a deal to sign Marseille midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia - according to reports in France.
The Black Cats are preparing themselves for another key summer transfer window in the aftermath of their historic qualification for the Europa League and there is a determination to strengthen Regis Le Bris’ squad ahead of an increasingly hectic season.
Speaking earlier this month, the Black Cats boss opened up on what could lie ahead as he said: “It will be important to build on the foundations we have created together because we feel as though we still have so much to do with this squad. Then, it will still be important to add two, three or four players to help the starting XI and also improve the core of 16 or so for the first-team squad. That is what we will be trying to do.”
Sunderland have already been linked with several potential new additions - but noise over a possible move for former Inter and Valencia midfielder Kondogbia is gathering pace in France. MediaFoot have claimed the Central African Republic international is ‘close to an agreement’ with the Black Cats and suggests Sunderland are ‘aspiring to recruit an experienced midfielder’ during the summer transfer window.
Marseille are willing to part company with Kondogbia as they look to allow some of their highest earners to leave the club and the 33-year-old is said to ‘tick all of the boxes’ for Regis Le Bris as he prepares to take his squad into European competition when the new season gets underway in August.
Sunderland target ‘ready’ for summer move
Jhon Lucumi is back on Sunderland's radar.placeholder image
Jhon Lucumi is back on Sunderland's radar. | Getty Images
Sunderland made a move to sign Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi last summer - and reports in Italy have suggested the Colombia international could make a move to the Premier League over the coming months.
Lucumi was indentified as a target for the Black Cats during their preparations to return to the Premier League and has been consistently linked with a move to the Stadium of Light throughout the season. However, he has remained with the Serie A club and will now enter the final year of his current deal this summer amid speculation his time with Bologna is coming to a close after they failed to qualify for Europe.
Reports in Italy have now suggested Lucumi has emerged as a target for Tottenham Hotspur over the last week - although their move for Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi means any more for the Colombian may be shelved. However, there has been confirmation the 35-times capped Colombia international is now ‘ready for a new challenge’ after receiving some ‘significant opportunities’ last year.
The defender’s agent, Simone Rondanini, told Tuttomercatoweb: “Obviously, there’s a bit of disappointment, because since he’s been at Bologna, the team has consistently achieved important goals. Personally, though, I think he’s continued to grow, and I think this has been especially evident in the final games of the season. Bologna is his home. As we know, there were already some significant opportunities last year, but ultimately no agreement was reached. I believe the boy is now ready for a new challenge, so we’ll carefully analyse the market and see if the conditions are right for everyone this summer.”
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