Sunderland ready bid for £22m star after Xhaka

Sunderland fans will be hoping their team can be instantly successful moving up to the Premier League after an action-packed summer so far in the transfer window.

Of course, it will take time for the multitude of fresh signings on Wearside to gel and get up to speed with their daunting new environment, but Regis Le Bris will just pray it clicks relatively quickly as his team tries to stave off an immediate drop back down to the Championship.

Granit Xhaka could well be the next statement addition through that door that ruffles a few feathers, with the Black Cats reportedly striking an agreement on personal terms with the ex-Arsenal midfielder to return to the Premier League. Further reports have indicated that a bid has also been lodged for the Bayer Leverkusen man.

Then, with the attack already bolstered and the midfield department brimming with quality, the defence could be next on Le Bris’ agenda to strengthen.

Sunderland prepare bid for £22m titan

The star-studded buys look as if they will continue into the Black Cats’ back line, with Sunderland now being linked to former Europa League winner Loic Bade in the heart of defence.

Recent reports have suggested that the newly promoted side are in pole position to land the imposing Frenchman, even as fellow suitors from the Premier League in Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur circle for the £25m defender’s services, alongside Marseille and Villarreal.

It still could be a tall order for Sunderland to win this race outright, even if they are reported to be in the lead for his signature currently, with a dream alternative to the 25-year-old now up their sleeve as a fresh bid is potentially prepared.

As per reports from Italian outlet Il Resto del Carlino, as relayed by 1000CuoriRossoblu, Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi is now tempted by a move to Wearside after initially being hesitant.

With the newly-promoted side already lodging a bid of around €20m (£17m), a heftier offer is now being prepared by the Black Cats, with the Serie A side looking for closer to €25m (£22m) to cash in.

With Lucumi’s agents also pushing for the centre-back to relocate to England, this might well be a move that is finalised in a swifter manner than Bade’s, with the Bologna number 26 sticking out as a dream alternative to the one-time France international.

Why Lucumi would be a dream Bade alternative

This chaotic summer period so far has proven that the Black Cats are unafraid to splash the cash, with a club-record £30m forked out on Habib Diarra.

Yet, there won’t be a bottomless pit of money at the Stadium of Light forever, meaning £3m saved on a defender could be a worthwhile, savvy move in the long run, especially when you weigh up Lucumi’s strengths next to his £25m counterpart.

Despite once being heralded as an “elite” level defender by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Bade comes up short when assessed next to Lucumi in many different areas of their defensive games across last season.

The South American centre-back trumping the Sevilla number 22 when it comes to accurate passes per 90 minutes in league action, on top of Bade also falling flat in terms of ball recoveries and tackles won.

Lucumi’s well-known composure with the ball at his feet has even seen him labelled as “ice cold” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, with this assured demeanour standing him in good stead for the intense challenges the Premier League would throw his way.

Whilst Bade might be a more notable name to an outsider looking in, the evidence here proves that Lucumi would be a fantastic, cost-effective alternative to the Frenchman.

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