Sunderland are yet to receive an offer for Trai Hume despite suggestions Galatasaray have made an approach for the Northern Ireland full-back, We Are Sunderland understands.
Hume is one of a number of players at the Stadium of Light thought to be on the radar of clubs across Europe this summer with overseas interest ramping up following the news of Udinese's interest in Pierre Ekwah.
Reports emerged late on Tuesday the Serie A club have identified Ekwah as their number one target this summer with the Italian side readying a formal offer for the 22-year-old midfielder having held preliminary talks with the hierarchy at the Stadium of Light. Although discussions regarding Ekwah have yet resulted in an offer, there is an expectation that a bid is imminent.
But that is not necessarily the case with Hume, who has been linked with a move to Turkey according to multiple reports, with Galatasaray suggested to have made an offer of around £7million for the 22-year-old full-back. The Turkish club are understood to have included Hume on a list of potential defensive targets, however there has been no formal contact with Sunderland officials and senior sources have dismissed suggestions that a bid has been rejected.
At this stage, Sunderland have not received an offer for Hume, who remains an important part of the club’s plans for next season and is currently with Régis Le Bris' squad in Spain as pre-season preparations continue ahead of fixtures with Nottingham Forest and CD Eldense this weekend.
Hume has been another big success story of Sunderland's recruitment strategy in recent years having arrived from Linfield in January 2022 for a fee believed to be in the region of £200,000. The Northern Irishman signed an initial four-and-a-half-year contract on Wearside but last summer negotiated a new deal which will keep him at the club until at least 2027, with Sunderland holding the option of a further year with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman describing him as 'a great example of what’s possible at Sunderland AFC for young players.'
Similar to the deal involving Ekwah from West Ham United, Hume is also the subject of a sell-on clause affecting future transactions, with Linfield set to receive around 15 per cent of the fee Sunderland receive. That could result in a substantial windfall for the Belfast club given how much Hume has gone on to establish himself in the Championship.
READ MORE: Pierre Ekwah a transfer target for Serie A side Udinese
Hume ranked No.1 in the division last season for several defensive metrics such as tackles and interceptions and is highly regarded, having also been linked with Premier League clubs, most notably Aston Villa, over the course of the last 12 months, while Championship play-off finalists Leeds United are believed to be monitoring Hume's situation following the sale of Archie Gray.
Since joining Sunderland in 2022, Hume has gone on to earn his senior international debut with Northern Ireland and establish himself on the international stage with 13 caps alongside team-mate Dan Ballard, who recently captained his country earlier this year.
Like a number of Wearside, despite a disappointing season as a collective last year, Hume's stock remains high and he is another player of significant potential financial value to Sunderland along with the likes of Ballard, Jack Clarke, Dan Neil and Anthony Patterson who all have admirers. Hume's versatility is another attribute, having featured at both right full-back and wing-back, as well as left-back and as a right-sided centre-back during his time at the Stadium of Light.
READ MORE: Trai Hume relaxed over Sunderland future
Hume has spoken about his future previously when sharing his belief of being able to play in the Premier League to the Belfast Telegraph while on international duty this summer.
“I think I could play in the Premier League. You have to keep yourself at a high standard and you want to push yourself as much as you can," the 22-year-old said.
“That’s the level I want to get to, but I’m happy enough at Sunderland and happy where I’m at and I’m really enjoying my football. If a move happens, it happens, and if doesn’t I’m happy to play for Sunderland.
“I try not to think about it. I let my agent deal with all that stuff and until they come to Sunderland and offer money I don’t pay too much attention to it.
“I played in every single game last season so that’s a positive, and I think I did well throughout, but we didn’t finish where we wanted to finish and stay high up the table."
Hume has made 84 appearances across his two-and-a-half-year period with Sunderland and is set to remain a key player under Le Bris this season.
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