Sunderland have come forward to sign £13m star in Granit Xhaka repeat

Sunderland struck gold in the summer transfer window by completing the permanent signing of Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen, a move that has already proven to be inspired business.

After securing promotion from the Championship, the Black Cats were well aware that survival in the Premier League would require players capable of raising the overall standard of the squad. Xhaka fitted that brief perfectly.

The experienced midfielder arrived with an elite résumé, boasting 95 appearances across the Champions League and Europa League, alongside 297 outings for Arsenal, according to Transfermarkt.

He joined Sunderland as a proven performer on the biggest stages, having represented Switzerland at international level and competed regularly in Europe at club level. Now 33, Xhaka has been a key figure in the heart of midfield, starting 21 Premier League matches this season.

As per Sofascore, he has contributed one goal and five assists, underlining his influence and reliability in the centre of the pitch.

Sunderland consider move for Serie A defender

Sunderland are now reportedly exploring the possibility of adding another seasoned, European-experienced player to their ranks, following the blueprint that worked so well with Xhaka.

According to Calcio Mercato, the Black Cats are among several clubs monitoring Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumí ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report suggests Bologna are planning to sell the defender for around £13 million once the season concludes, with his contract set to enter its final year.

However, the Italian club are unwilling to sanction a January exit. Sunderland are said to have registered their interest alongside West Ham United and Manchester City, while Inter Milan are also keeping a close eye on the Colombian international.

Calcio Mercato further adds that Bologna would prefer to extend Lucumí’s contract to avoid losing him, but current indications point towards the defender moving on later this year.

Why Lucumí could mirror the Xhaka impact

A common pitfall for newly promoted sides is relying too heavily on players stepping up from lower divisions or lesser leagues, resulting in a squad that is collectively adjusting to the demands of a higher level.

Sunderland avoided that trap last summer by blending younger or developing talents with established figures from Europe’s top leagues.

The arrivals of Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele, and Omar Alderete gave the squad a strong, experienced core, and Lucumí could represent a continuation of that strategy.

Like Xhaka and Mukiele, the Bologna defender would be arriving from a major European league, bringing with him Champions League and Europa League experience, with 26 combined appearances in those competitions.

Journalist Josh Bunting has previously described Lucumí as a player with “real quality,” although his current campaign has been somewhat mixed.

Defensively, he has struggled at times, winning just 41% of his aerial duels across 15 Serie A appearances this season, according to Sofascore.

However, last season painted a different picture, with the Colombian winning 68% of his ground duels and 50% of his aerial contests, suggesting his recent form may be an anomaly rather than a true reflection of his ability.

What truly sets Lucumí apart, though, is his composure and quality in possession. His passing range, ball progression, and willingness to carry the ball out from defence could significantly enhance Sunderland’s build-up play.

While Alderete has been solid since his arrival from Getafe, Lucumí would offer a higher ceiling on the ball, giving head coach Régis Le Bris more tactical flexibility.

A centre-back pairing featuring Lucumí alongside either Dan Ballard or Alderete could be particularly effective, combining a confident ball-player with a more traditional defensive presence.

Such balance would allow each defender’s strengths to shine while covering potential weaknesses.

In that sense, a £13 million move for Lucumí could prove to be another shrewd piece of recruitment for Sunderland.

Much like the signings of Xhaka and Mukiele, his experience at the highest level and technical quality could make him a valuable asset, further strengthening the spine of the team as the Black Cats look to establish themselves in the Premier League.