Sunderland are currently weighing the possibility of securing a late‑season deal for Manchester City’s experienced 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. While a temporary arrangement is at the forefront of their strategy, the club is also entertaining the idea of a permanent transfer should the circumstances allow, as they aim to bolster their options on the flanks. In addition to Grealish, Sunderland have set their sights on Brazilian forward Igor Paixao, who is currently plying his trade at Marseille.
The club’s scouting department believes that both players could add the necessary width and creativity that have been lacking in recent fixtures. Grealish spent the previous campaign on loan at Everton, where he featured regularly and impressed with his ability to drift wide, cut inside and deliver incisive passes. Everton remain interested in the player, but Sunderland’s offer appears to be gaining momentum. Grealish has also featured for Manchester City this season, albeit mostly as a substitute.
He appeared off the bench in City’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal and in their Premier League opener against Bournemouth, showcasing glimpses of his trademark flair. Manchester City’s squad depth on the wings has been affected by recent departures. Both Savio and Omar Marmoush have been sold to Tottenham, with Savio’s move already completed and Marmoush in the final stages of his transfer.
This has left City with limited alternatives in the wide‑forward positions, a situation worsened by a short‑term calf injury to Jeremy Doku, who is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. In response, City are preparing to sign 22‑year‑old Brazilian talent Allan from Palmeiras as a potential replacement for Savio, although that deal has yet to be finalized. They have also been linked with Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo as they continue to explore options to reinforce their attacking line‑up.
At present, Enzo Maresca’s Sunderland squad lists Antoine Semenyo and Jack Grealish as the only senior players who specialize as out‑and‑out wide attackers. While versatile forwards such as Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki can be deployed on the wings, they are more frequently utilized in central roles, leaving a genuine need for a specialist winger.
The pursuit of Igor Paixao continues to be a priority for Sunderland. Regís Le Bris’ side have submitted a formal bid for the Brazilian forward earlier this week.
Paixao had previously attracted interest from Leeds United last summer, but he ultimately chose to sign for Marseille. Sunderland’s negotiations are ongoing, and the club is aware that Marseille are looking to raise funds, making the transfer window an opportune moment for a deal. Beyond Grealish and Paixao, Sunderland have also been in extended talks with Sporting Lisbon regarding Mozambican winger Geny Catamo.
Catamo carries a release clause of £51.4m at the Portuguese club, a figure that Sunderland may be prepared to meet if they deem the player’s potential worth the investment. The club’s transfer radar includes a variety of other names across different leagues, ranging from promising youngsters to experienced free agents. Some of the notable targets listed in recent scouting reports are: - Dayann Methalie (Toulouse) – valuation £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 - Timothée 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 approach to rebuilding the squad, blending experienced professionals with youthful prospects. The club’s strategy appears to focus on securing immediate impact players like Grealish while also laying the groundwork for future development through signings such as Paixao and Catamo.
Fans can stay updated on the latest developments through the Transfer Centre LIVE app, which provides real‑time headlines, Premier League ins and outs, and streaming options for matches without a contract. As negotiations progress, Sunderland hope to finalize at least one of these key acquisitions before the transfer window closes, ensuring they enter the second half of the season with a more potent and balanced attacking unit. The club’s management remains optimistic that the combination of a high‑profile winger, additional depth on the wings, and strategic signings across the roster will help Sunderland climb the league table and achieve their competitive objectives for the season.