Sunderland Hit By Dodi Lukébakio Transfer Blow As Marco Silva Blocks Forward's Benfica Exit

Earlier on deadline day, surprising reports emerged indicating that Sunderland were in talks with Benfica to sign Lukebakio, amid the ongoing Malick Fofana transfer saga. 

Lukebakio appeared to be a last-minute option for the Black Cats, with the news coming at the time when Crystal Palace seemed poised to beat Sunderland to Fofana’s signature, but with the Belgian starlet destined to join the Stadium of Light outfit, the Benfica winger will be staying with the Portuguese giants. 

Reporter Sacha Talovieri revealed on X that Lukebakio will be staying at Benfica, with Marco Silva going to great lengths with the club’s hierarchy to retain the former Sevilla forward.

Sunderland and Benfica had agreed on a deal worth €19m, and despite the fact that a private jet was booked for the Belgian international to facilitate the potential move, Lukebakio will stay at the Liga Portugal powerhouses.

The proposed move for Lukebakio caused some division within the Black Cats fanbase on social media, with two camps emerging regarding the prospective transfer. 

On the positive side, some sections of the Sunderland fanbase believe that the Belgian would have offered strength in depth to Regis Le Bris’ attacking ranks, and brought a profile of player that the Black Cats are desperate for in terms of being a left-footed right-winger. 

However, others felt that given his recent injury record and the fact that he failed to net in the Portuguese top flight last season, and that the move was a potential panic-buy from the Black Cats transfer team, consequential to the Fofana to Palace saga.

Regardless of the feeling among the Sunderland faithful, the Benfica forward will not be joining the Stadium of Light project on deadline day, with some feeling that it is a missed opportunity and others believing it to be a mistake dodged.

Amid the Fofana saga, which has thankfully resolved with the young talent making the move to the Stadium of Light, Lukebakio was not the only failed attempt from Sunderland to sign an attacker on deadline day.

According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, Sunderland had made an approach to Premier League rivals Leeds United for Noah Okafor, which was rejected by the Elland Road outfit.

Okafor netted eight goals in 28 appearances in the Premier League for Leeds last season, but neither Lukebakio nor the former AC Milan forward will be joining Sunderland on deadline day.