It is solely a month away now till Premier League motion lastly returns to the Stadium of Gentle.
Sunderland followers have been ready for this second to reach all summer season, and with the quantity of whirlwind enterprise that has taken place off the pitch this low season, with high-profile additions galore, it should be arduous for the Black Cats devoted to not really feel excited in the intervening time, but impatient in equal measure.
The most recent jaw-dropping arrival was Simon Adingra from Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Premier League-ready attacker becoming a member of up with Regis Le Bris’ camp for £18m.
More money will certainly be splashed between now and the opening match of the marketing campaign versus West Ham United, as Le Bris and Co. start to search out some new defensive our bodies to strengthen much more.
Sunderland firming up curiosity in £24m star
Specifically, the Black Cats can be trying so as to add some reinforcements within the coronary heart of defence primarily based on recurring rumours.
The likes of Duje Caleta-Automotive, Joe Gomez, and Charlie Cresswell have all been tipped to affix the Stadium of Gentle ranks this summer season on this division, with studies even going so far as to recommend that Cresswell might be bought for across the £18m mark.
Nonetheless, there’s a contemporary goal has now emerged on this space of the pitch within the type of Bologna titan Jhon Lucumi, with Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio suggesting that the newly promoted aspect is displaying an curiosity within the imposing Colombian.
That has been adopted up by a report from switch guru Fabrizio Romano, with the revered insider revealing that the Black Cats are able to make an official bid, having been in touch during the last 24 hours or so.
With a reported launch clause coming into play at across the £24m area, will probably be intriguing to see what Sunderland are keen to fork out to snap up the 6-foot-2 defender shortly, with Lucumi arguably a fair greater expertise than the up-and-coming Cresswell.
Why Lucumi is a fair greater expertise than Cresswell
While the previous Leeds United man is the speak of the city in the intervening time after a breakout Toulouse marketing campaign and an imperious Euros match, he’s nonetheless a comparatively inexperienced determine within the grand scheme of issues.
Certainly, when including up the 22-year-old’s profession appearances up to now, 39 of his 101 total clashes have come about within the U21 ranks at Elland Highway, with only one significant senior season underneath his belt in a prime division in Ligue 1, which took place simply final marketing campaign.
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Lucumi’s league numbers for Bologna (24/25) vs Cresswell’s (24/25) |
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|---|---|---|
|
Stat – per 90 minutes* |
Lucumi |
Cresswell |
|
Video games performed |
32 |
31 |
|
Objectives scored |
0 |
3 |
|
Assists |
1 |
1 |
|
Touches* |
73.2 |
63.3 |
|
Correct passes* |
57.9 (92%) |
41.2 (83%) |
|
Ball recoveries* |
5.5 |
3.3 |
|
Complete duels gained* |
3.9 |
4.9 |
|
Clear sheets |
10 |
9 |
|
Stats by Sofascore |
||
On the flip aspect, the Bologna quantity 26 has been a mainstay in Serie A for a while now – with a excessive 94 Italian top-flight contests subsequent to his identify – and as might be seen glancing on the desk above, his powers have not waned in anyway as a dominant and warranted presence within the backline of Vincenzo Italiano’s aspect.
If something, he really managed to trump Cresswell in many alternative areas of their respective defensive video games final season, with Lucumi having been famous for his “ice-cold composure” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Certainly, he averaged extra correct passes per league conflict than the Preston-born centre-back, on prime of tirelessly registering extra ball recoveries as an lively physique on the again.
Additional hailed as being “ridiculously spectacular” by Mattinson, it does really feel as if Lucumi can be higher positioned to go in and make an affect on the Sunderland aspect instantly than Cresswell, contemplating he additionally excelled within the Champions League final marketing campaign when battling in opposition to the likes of Aston Villa with 4.6 whole duels gained on common in Europe’s elite competitors.
Cresswell will undoubtedly discover himself again within the English recreation at some stage, having been rashly discarded by Leeds.
However, within the right here and now, Sunderland ought to try and push the boat out extra to land the Colombian, as increasingly money is thrown round to assist increase the Black Cats’ survival probabilities.
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