Sunderland are actively investigating the possibility of securing a late‑season deal for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. The Black Cats have expressed a strong interest in arranging a loan move for the 30‑year‑old, who is now entering the final year of his contract with the Sky Blues. In addition to a temporary arrangement, the club is also weighing the option of a permanent transfer, as they look to bolster their options on the flanks and add experience to their attacking line‑up.
The interest in Grealish comes at a time when Sunderland are also pursuing Brazilian forward Igor Paixão from Olympique de Marseille. Both targets reflect the club's ambition to improve its width and creativity ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Grealish spent the 2022‑23 season on loan at Everton, where he made a noticeable impact and attracted continued interest from the Merseyside side. Despite his loan spell ending, he returned to Manchester City, where he has been used primarily as a substitute.
He featured off the bench in City's Community Shield loss to Arsenal and again in the Premier League opener against Bournemouth. Manchester City have recently seen a reshuffle in their wide‑player department. The club have agreed to sell Savio and Omar Marmoush to Tottenham Hotspur; Savio's transfer has already been completed, while Marmoush is in the final stages of his move.
These departures have left City with a thinner selection of natural wingers, a situation that has been further complicated by a short‑term calf injury to Jeremy Doku, which is expected to keep him sidelined for two to three weeks. To address the shortage, City are poised to sign 22‑year‑old Brazilian forward Allan from Palmeiras, although the deal has not yet been finalized. The club are also monitoring Cody Gakpo at Liverpool as a potential addition to their attacking ranks. At present, Enzo Maresca's squad lists only Antoine Semenyo and Jack Grealish as true senior wide‑players, with Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki often being deployed in more central roles.
Sunderland's pursuit of Igor Paixão remains a parallel priority. Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has submitted a formal bid for the Brazilian striker earlier this week. Paixão had previously been linked with Leeds United last summer, but he ultimately chose to sign for Marseille. The French club is reportedly in need of funds, which could make them more amenable to a Sunderland offer.
Negotiations are ongoing on several fronts. In addition to Grealish and Paixão, Sunderland have been in talks with Sporting Lisbon regarding Mozambique winger Geny Catamo, who carries a hefty release clause of £51.4 million. The club's scouting network has also identified a number of other potential signings across Europe, ranging from established internationals to promising youngsters and free agents. Among the listed targets are: - Dayann Methalie (Toulouse) – £25.7m - Jules Ahoka (Royal Antwerp) – £8m - Thomas Meunier (Lille) – free transfer - Ethan Berry (Crystal Palace) – free transfer - Adam Nelson (Glentoran) – free transfer - Eleizer Mayenda (Rennes) – £22m - Anthony Patterson (Wrexham) – £10m - Ahmed Abdullahi (Eyupspor) – undisclosed fee - Harrison Jones (Peterborough) – undisclosed fee - Zak Johnson (York) – undisclosed fee - Nazariy Rusyn (Karpaty Lviv) – undisclosed fee - Timothee Pembele (Le Havre) – undisclosed fee - Dennis Cirkin (QPR) – free transfer - Oliver Bainbridge (Boreham Wood) – free transfer - Tom Lavery (Gateshead) – free transfer - Dan Neil (Rangers) – free transfer - Rhys Walsh (Glentoran) – free transfer - Milan Aleksic (Partizan Belgrade) – loan deal - Matty Young (Huddersfield) – loan deal - Bertrand Traoré – released - Niall Huggins – released These names illustrate Sunderland's broad strategy of combining experienced professionals with younger talent, while also taking advantage of free‑agent opportunities to manage the club's wage bill.
The club's recruitment drive is being closely followed by fans and pundits alike, as Sunderland aim to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion. The potential arrival of a high‑profile player like Jack Grealish would not only add quality on the wing but also bring a significant commercial boost, given his global recognition and marketability. While the negotiations are still in flux, Sunderland appear determined to act swiftly before the transfer window closes. Their focus on securing a winger is clear, and the combination of Grealish's Premier League experience and Paixão's proven goal‑scoring record could provide the balance the team needs.
In summary, Sunderland are weighing a loan or permanent move for Jack Grealish, pursuing Igor Paixão from Marseille, and exploring a host of other signings ranging from free agents to high‑value transfers. The club's objective is to reinforce its wide‑area options, address squad depth concerns, and ultimately position itself as a serious contender for promotion in the upcoming season.