Arsenal Faces Competition from Sunderland for Young Talent Kerim Alajbegovic

Arsenal is reportedly competing with Sunderland for the signature of Bayer Leverkusen forward Kerim Alajbegovic. The 18-year-old talent is set to showcase his skills on the international stage as Bosnia-Herzegovina prepares to face Canada in their opening match of Group B at the World Cup this Friday night.

Sunderland has had a successful return to the Premier League over the past year, managing to avoid relegation comfortably. The team, under the management of Regis Le Bris, finished seventh in the league after securing a final-day victory against Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.

This impressive finish has marked Sunderland’s first qualification for European football in 53 years, as they will participate in the League Phase of the Europa League next season.

Sunderland Enters the Race for Alajbegovic

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal’s interest in Alajbegovic is now met with competition from Premier League rivals Sunderland. The young star is expected to have a thrilling summer during the World Cup.

Alajbegovic was sold to RB Salzburg in July 2025, but following a standout season in the Austrian Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen activated a £7 million buy-back clause. He is currently valued at just under £26 million, a figure that could significantly increase depending on his performance in the World Cup.

Reports suggest that Sunderland has already initiated contact regarding a potential transfer for Alajbegovic, who is also being pursued by other Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea. Additionally, Serie A club Roma is considered a strong contender for his signature.

Sunderland’s Ambitious Transfer Strategy

A little over a year ago, Sunderland faced challenges in the Championship, losing five consecutive matches before embarking on a playoff campaign that many predicted would end in disappointment. However, they defied expectations by securing their return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence, defeating Sheffield United in the playoff final.

The club has made significant investments in their squad and continues to pursue ambitious transfer targets as they aim to build a team capable of meeting the demands of Europa League football for the upcoming season.