Sunderland in race for Kerim Alajbegović as Roma step up pursuit of wonderkid

Sunderland remain firmly in the race for highly-rated winger Kerim Alajbegović, although growing competition from Roma could force the Black Cats to accelerate their plans.

The 18-year-old has emerged as one of European football's most exciting young talents after a breakthrough campaign with Salzburg and a series of impressive performances for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to reports from Italy, Sunderland are particularly interested in the teenager and are among the clubs closely monitoring his situation following his return to Bayer Leverkusen.

However, Roma have already moved beyond admiration and are reportedly attempting to position themselves at the front of the queue.

Alajbegović enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 season, establishing himself as a regular at club level while also becoming an important figure for the Bosnian national team.

The winger featured 44 times across all competitions for Salzburg, scoring 13 goals and providing four assists.

His progress continued on the international stage, where he played a key role in Bosnia's qualification campaign and delivered important contributions in decisive matches.

Particularly notable were his performances against Wales and Italy during the World Cup playoffs, where he demonstrated maturity beyond his years.

Having followed Sunderland's recruitment under their current ownership model, the club have increasingly targeted high-upside young players capable of developing into elite-level assets. Alajbegović fits that profile perfectly.

While Sunderland continue to track developments, Roma appear to have taken more concrete action.

Reports from Sky Italia suggest the Serie A club have already initiated contact with Bayer Leverkusen regarding a permanent transfer.

New Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini is said to be a strong admirer of the winger and views him as a player capable of fitting into his attacking system.

The report claims an offer worth €30 million has already been presented to Bayer Leverkusen.

Crucially, Alajbegović is also believed to favour a move to Italy at this stage, potentially giving Roma an advantage in any negotiations.

That preference may be Sunderland's biggest obstacle rather than the transfer fee itself.

Leverkusen find themselves in a strong negotiating position.

The Bundesliga club recently re-signed Alajbegović for around €8 million after previously developing him within their youth system. They are fully aware of the player's potential and may see little reason to rush into a decision.

With the World Cup approaching, Leverkusen could benefit from waiting.

A strong tournament would likely increase the teenager's market value and potentially attract interest from additional clubs across Europe.

That uncertainty means Roma's early offer may not immediately be accepted.

For Sunderland, that delay could create an opportunity.

The World Cup could become a defining moment in Alajbegović's career and significantly influence the transfer market around him.

Leverkusen are unlikely to feel pressured into an immediate sale, especially if they believe the player's value could rise during the tournament. Roma are expected to continue pushing for an agreement, while Sunderland may hope patience works in their favour.

Although reports suggest the winger currently favours a move to Italy, a convincing sporting project and pathway to regular football could still leave the door open for Sunderland.

Can Sunderland persuade one of Europe's brightest young talents to choose their project over Roma's Champions League appeal?