Manchester City’s move for 27-year-old Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi has collapsed due to his long-term hamstring injury.
According to a report by Italian outlet Quotidiano Sportivo, Jhon Lucumi has been the subject of interest from Manchester City. The Citizens are eager to bolster their defensive unit by signing a centre-back in the winter transfer window. So, the 27-year-old Bologna centre-back emerged as a target for them.
However, a January deal will not materialise, as the South American defender will spend weeks in the treatment room due to a hamstring injury. Lucumi was also a target for Sunderland, but the Black Cats, like Manchester City, must also look elsewhere for a new centre-back this month.
How has Jhon Lucumi fared in Serie A?
Jhon Lucumi has made considerable progress since joining Bologna from KRC Genk in July 2022. The 27-year-old has been a mainstay at the back for the Rossoblu, establishing himself as one of the most reliable centre-backs in Serie A in the last three and a half years.
The Colombian international has made nearly 150 appearances for Bologna thus far while chipping in with two goals and three assists. Meanwhile, Lucumi’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Premier League outfits, in particular, have been keen on signing him, with Manchester City among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the winter transfer window.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Manchester City’s interest in Jhon Lucumi made sense. The Citizens have been scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the winter transfer window. While Pep Guardiola has a stacked central defensive unit, the Manchester City manager is grappling with an injury crisis in the early period of the second half of the 2025/26 season.
John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol are in the treatment room for the foreseeable future, leaving Guardiola with Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake as the only centre-backs in his squad while recalling Max Alleyne from Watford. Several candidates, including Marc Guehi, have thus emerged on Manchester City’s wishlist, with Lucumi also a viable target.
However, a January deal will not materialise, as the South American defender will spend weeks in the treatment room due to a hamstring injury. Lucumi was also a target for Sunderland, but the Black Cats, like Manchester City, must also look elsewhere for a new centre-back this month.
