Jhon Lucumí is on the radar of Inter and Juventus to strengthen their defense. The Colombian center-back from Bologna is ready to listen to proposals from the two Italian clubs, who could open direct negotiations with the Rossoblù after the expiration of the release clause set at 28 million euros.
According to reports from Resto del Carlino, no club has paid the required sum within the established deadline. Now the suitors will be able to negotiate directly with Bologna to try to lower the transfer fee, considering that Lucumí‘s contract expires on June 30, 2027, and from the end of January he could sign on a free transfer.
Juventus seems intent on making a concrete move. The Bianconeri club is waiting for the sale of Muharemovic to the Premier League to collect the 50 percent due from the sale to Sassuolo, resources that would then be allocated to the pursuit of the Colombian defender. Lucumí has put on hold offers from mid-table Premier League teams and from Besiktas in Turkey, preferring to wait for top clubs from the main European leagues that can guarantee him the chance to compete for titles consistently.
Inter is also considering the profile of the center-back, even though their priority is the purchase of a right winger after Khalaili’s departure. The Nerazzurri are also following Chalobah from Chelsea, but the 35 million plus bonuses requested by the London club could shift their attention to Lucumí instead.
Bologna will try to set the asking price around 25 million euros and is waiting to see if, after the defender’s excellent World Cup, the big clubs from the Premier League and Spain will also make a move, with Atletico Madrid having sent scouts to monitor him. Juventus values the player between 20 and 22 million and is considering the possibility of including technical counterparts to lower the price, a strategy already attempted unsuccessfully a month ago with Miretti, when Bologna considered the 14 million valuation excessive.
It remains to be seen whether Inter will try the same move, aware of the Rossoblù’s interest in the midfielder Akinsanmiro (21 years old) and the mezzala Massolin (23 years old), recently acquired from Modena and who could be leaving after the training camp. Bologna is looking for at least one reinforcement in midfield while waiting for a decision on Freuler’s future.
CONTINUE READING