AHMED Abdullahi could be set for the Sunderland exit door with the Black Cats in transfer talks with Turkish top flight club Eyüpspor.
Abdullahi hasn’t made a first team appearance for Sunderland since joining the club from Gent in the summer of 2024.
A succession of injury issues kept Abdullahi out of the first team picture in his first season, and opportunities were obviously always going to be hard to come by for the 22-year-old once the Black Cats won promotion to the Premier League.
Abdullahi wasn’t involved in Sunderland’s 5-1 friendly win over York City on Saturday, despite the fact several youngsters and fringe figures were included in the squad.
Abdullahi instead played for the Under-21s against South Shields. And it now has now emerged that Sunderland are in talks with Super Lig side Eyüpspor.
Nothing has been agreed at this point but it’s increasingly clear that Abdullahi will be allowed to move on this summer if a deal that suits Sunderland can be agreed.
Although Sunderland have sold Eliezer Mayenda this summer, they still have Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor, while Trey Ogunsuyi appears to also be above Abdullahi in the pecking order having been involved in pre-season.
Meanwhile, Jhon Lucumi, who was a leading target for Sunderland 12 months ago, could be on the move this summer.
Lucumi wanted to move to Wearside last summer but Bologna wouldn’t allow the Colombian to leave, to the frustration of the defender.
But the Italian club’s chief executive Claudio Fenucci has now revealed that after standing in Lucumi’s way last summer, the defender was promised he’d be allowed to leave this year if a suitable offer is made.
Fenucci said: “A year ago, we couldn’t sell him at the end of the transfer window, but we promised him that this year, given a suitable offer, we’d make it happen.”
He added: “The transfer window hasn’t really taken off yet, and if it didn’t for Lucumi either, we’d be happy to keep him.”
Sunderland are looking to further strengthen their defence this summer if possible but it’s not clear at this stage whether they’ll revisit their interest in Lucumi.
The Black Cats have added Thomas Meunier to provide competition and cover at right-back but are believed to be looking at left-sided defensive options.