Manchester United Joins the Race for Lucumi
Manchester United has shown interest in Bologna's Colombian defender Jhon Lucumi. The player, who has also been on the radar of Galatasaray and Beşiktaş, is attracting increasing competition.
United's Champions League Preparations Continue
Under Michael Carrick's management, Manchester United experienced a significant turnaround last season and continues to strengthen its squad for a return to the Champions League. The club finished third in the Premier League with 71 points and became the league's highest-scoring and best-performing team in the period after the New Year. Bruno Fernandes played a crucial role in this rise, breaking the Premier League single-season record with 21 assists.
During the summer transfer window, United added Andrey Santos from Chelsea (for £50 million), Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, and experienced goalkeeper Karl Darlow to their squad, and also signed 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson from Tottenham.
New Target: Jhon Lucumi
According to Corriere dello Sport, Manchester United is showing interest in Bologna's Colombian defender Jhon Lucumi to strengthen their defense. It is reported that Juventus is also strongly interested in the 28-year-old defender. The report suggests that Carrick's team may soon make a significant offer.
Last season, Lucumi played 29 matches for Bologna in Serie A and appeared in 10 matches in the Europa League. He was also a starter in all five of Colombia's matches before being eliminated against Switzerland in the 2026 World Cup.
Bologna's Position: Neither Urgent Nor Reluctant
The player's contract with Bologna expires in 2027, and the €28 million buyout option has already expired on July 15. Therefore, it is indicated that the Italian club is open to a suitable offer. However, since no official offer has been received yet, it is stated that Bologna would be pleased to keep the player in their squad.
Competition with Turkish Clubs is Increasing
The name Lucumi has previously appeared in StatsLook's reports as one of the players Galatasaray is monitoring for their defense — it was mentioned that the club was discussing a transfer fee of €25 million for the player. Beşiktaş has also considered Lucumi as an alternative for their defensive line. Manchester United's entry into this race means that the two Turkish giants will now be competing directly with Premier League and Serie A clubs for this transfer — which could drive up the transfer fee and make it more challenging for Turkish clubs to gain an advantage in this deal.
