Sunderland are actively looking at the possibility of securing a late‑season transfer 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 City.
While a temporary loan is currently at the forefront of their plans, the club is also weighing the option of a permanent deal should the circumstances prove favourable. This strategic push reflects Sunderland's broader aim to bolster their flanks, as they are simultaneously pursuing other attacking talents, notably Igor Paixão from Olympique de Marseille.
Grealish spent the previous campaign on loan at Everton, where he demonstrated his ability to influence games from wide positions. Everton remain interested in retaining the player, but Sunderland believe they can offer a more prominent role. In the early part of the current season, Grealish was used off the bench in Manchester City’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal and also appeared as a substitute in the Premier League opener against Bournemouth. Those cameo appearances underline that he is still in the manager's plans, albeit not as a first‑team regular.
Manchester City have recently seen two of their wide‑forward options, Savio and Omar Marmoush, depart for Tottenham Hotspur. Savio’s transfer has already been completed, and Marmoush is in the final stages of his move.
The departures have left Pep Guardiola with a thinner selection of players for the wings, a situation made worse by a short‑term calf injury to Jeremy Doku, which is expected to sideline the young winger for two to three weeks. In response, City have moved quickly to secure a replacement, targeting 22‑year‑old Brazilian forward Allan from Palmeiras.
Allan’s deal is still pending finalisation, and the club is also monitoring Cody Gakpo at Liverpool as a potential addition to their attacking ranks. At present, Sunderland manager Enzo Maresca’s only senior, out‑and‑out wide options are Antoine Semenyo and Jack Grealish. Although Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki have occasionally been deployed on the flanks, they are more regularly used in central roles, leaving a genuine gap in the traditional wing positions.
This shortage is a key driver behind Sunderland’s urgency to secure a player of Grealish’s experience and skill set. The club’s interest in Igor Paixão remains strong.
Sunderland have already submitted a bid for the Brazilian forward earlier this week, after Regís Le Bris’s side identified him as a priority target. Paixão had previously been linked with a move to Leeds United last summer, but he ultimately chose to join Marseille.
Sunderland’s negotiations are ongoing, and the French club’s need to raise funds could make the deal more feasible. The club’s primary objective, however, remains the acquisition of a high‑quality winger to complement Grealish should the transfer go through. In addition to Grealish and Paixão, Sunderland have been in prolonged discussions with Sporting Lisbon regarding Mozambican winger Geny Catamo.
Catamo carries a hefty release clause of £51.4 million at the Portuguese side, indicating the level of investment Sunderland might be prepared to make for a player of his potential. The club’s scouting network continues to monitor a range of other prospects across Europe, as evidenced by the extensive list of names and potential deals that have surfaced in recent transfer rumours.
Among the players mentioned in recent reports 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 - Timothée Pembéle (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 - Matty Young (Huddersfield) – loan - Bertrand Traoré – released - Niall Huggins – released While many of these names represent peripheral targets or potential free‑signings, the core of Sunderland’s transfer strategy this window centres on securing a proven winger who can immediately impact the first team. Jack Grealish, with his blend of creativity, crossing ability, and experience in both the Premier League and Championship, fits that profile perfectly.
If Sunderland can negotiate terms that satisfy both City and the player, a loan with an option to buy could provide a low‑risk pathway to strengthen their attacking options. Should the loan materialise, Grealish would join a Sunderland side eager to climb the league table and challenge for promotion. His presence would not only add depth but also bring a winning mentality and a high level of technical skill to a squad that has been actively rebuilding under Maresca.
Moreover, the potential permanent acquisition would signal Sunderland’s ambition to compete at the highest level, demonstrating to fans and rivals alike that the club is willing to invest in top‑tier talent. In summary, Sunderland’s pursuit of Jack Grealish is part of a broader, multi‑pronged strategy to reinforce their wide areas ahead of the crucial stages of the season.
The club is balancing loan and permanent options, while also keeping an eye on other promising forwards such as Igor Paixão and Geny Catamo. With Manchester City’s wing options currently depleted and Sunderland’s desire to add experience and quality, a deal for Grealish could be mutually beneficial, offering the winger regular playing time and giving the Black Cats the firepower they need to push for a successful campaign.