Sunderland are actively investigating the possibility of securing a late‑season deal for Manchester City’s talented 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 current contract with the Sky Blues. While a temporary arrangement is the immediate focus, the club is also keeping the door open to a permanent transfer, hoping to bolster their options on the flanks as they look to improve squad depth.
The interest in Grealish comes alongside Sunderland's pursuit of another attacking prospect, Brazilian forward Igor Paixão, who is currently plying his trade at Olympique de Marseille. The club’s hierarchy believes that adding quality wide players will give them more tactical flexibility and a stronger attacking edge in the upcoming season. Grealish spent the previous campaign on loan at Everton, where he featured regularly and impressed with his ability to drive forward, beat defenders and deliver accurate crosses. Everton remain keen on re‑signing the English international, but Sunderland’s recent overtures suggest they are willing to compete for his services.
In recent weeks, Grealish has also featured as a substitute for Manchester City in two high‑profile fixtures: the Community Shield loss to Arsenal and City’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth. Those brief appearances highlighted his readiness to contribute when called upon, even though he has not yet cemented a regular starting berth at the Etihad. Manchester City’s wide‑forward options have been further depleted after the club agreed to sell two fringe players, Savio and Omar Marmoush, to Tottenham Hotspur. Savio’s transfer has already been completed, and Marmoush’s move is currently being finalised.
The departures have left City with a thinner selection of attacking players on the wings, a situation compounded 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 bring in a young Brazilian talent, 22‑year‑old Allan from Palmeiras, as a potential replacement for Savio, though his paperwork is still pending. Additionally, the club has shown interest in Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo as part of a broader strategy to reinforce their attacking ranks.
At present, Sunderland manager Enzo Maresca’s senior wide‑player options are limited to Antoine Semenyo and the prospective signing of Grealish. While versatile midfielders such as Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki have occasionally been deployed on the flanks, they are primarily used in central roles. The addition of a proven winger like Grealish would therefore provide a more specialised solution and could significantly improve Sunderland’s ability to stretch opposition defences. The club’s pursuit of Igor Paixão remains a parallel priority.
Regís Le Bris’s side have already submitted a formal bid for the Brazilian striker earlier this week. Paixão had previously attracted interest from Leeds United last summer, but he ultimately chose to sign for Marseille. Sunderland’s interest is motivated by the need to inject pace and finishing ability into their forward line, and the club believes that a successful acquisition could complement Grealish’s creative skill set. Negotiations with Marseille are ongoing, as the French club is reportedly looking to raise funds through player sales.
Sunderland’s primary focus, however, remains on securing a high‑quality winger, and they are prepared to act swiftly should their offers be accepted. In addition to the Grealish and Paixão targets, Sunderland have also been in extended talks with Sporting Lisbon regarding Mozambican winger Geny Catamo. The player carries a release clause of £51.4 million at the Portuguese side, indicating Sunderland’s willingness to invest heavily in talent that can make an immediate impact.
The transfer window has also seen a flurry of other movements and rumors involving Sunderland’s squad. Potential signings include: - Dayann Methalie from Toulouse for £25.7m - Jules Ahoka from Royal Antwerp for £8m - Thomas Meunier from Lille on a free transfer - Ethan Berry from Crystal Palace on a free transfer - Adam Nelson from Glentoran on a free transfer - Eleizer Mayenda from Rennes for £22m - Anthony Patterson from Wrexham for £10m - Ahmed Abdullahi from Eyupspor (undisclosed fee) - Harrison Jones from Peterborough (undisclosed fee) - Zak Johnson from York (undisclosed fee) - Nazariy Rusyn from Karpaty Lviv (undisclosed fee) - Timothée Pembele from Le Havre (undisclosed fee) - Dennis Cirkin from QPR on a free transfer - Oliver Bainbridge from Boreham Wood on a free transfer - Tom Lavery from Gateshead on a free transfer - Dan Neil from Rangers on a free transfer - Rhys Walsh from Glentoran on a free transfer - Milan Aleksic from Partizan Belgrade on loan - Matty Young from Huddersfield on loan - Bertrand Traoré released - Niall Huggins released These potential arrivals, ranging from experienced internationals to promising youngsters, illustrate Sunderland’s comprehensive approach to rebuilding their roster. By targeting both immediate reinforcements like Grealish and longer‑term prospects, the club aims to create a balanced squad capable of competing at a higher level.
Off the pitch, Sunderland continue to engage fans with interactive promotions, such as the Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £1 million for free entry. The club also promotes its mobile Transfer Centre LIVE app, keeping supporters updated with the latest headlines, Premier League transfer ins and outs, and streaming options for matches without a contract.
In summary, Sunderland’s transfer strategy this window is anchored by the pursuit of a high‑profile winger in Jack Grealish, complemented by a broader recruitment drive that includes Igor Paixão, Geny Catamo and a host of other players across various positions. If successful, these moves could provide the team with the depth, creativity, and firepower needed to achieve their competitive ambitions in the coming season.