Sunderland are actively pursuing a possible late‑season transaction for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. The Black Cats have expressed a strong interest in securing a loan deal for the 30‑year‑old, who is now entering the final year of his contract with the Premier League champions. While a temporary move is at the forefront of their plans, the club is also weighing the option of a permanent transfer, aiming to bolster their options on the flanks as they look to improve squad depth. The interest in Grealish comes alongside Sunderland's ongoing attempts to bring Brazilian forward Igor Paixao to the Stadium of Light from Olympique de Marseille.
Both targets reflect the club's strategic focus on adding pace, creativity and goal‑scoring threat to their wide areas, where they have identified a clear need for reinforcement. Grealish spent the previous campaign on loan at Everton, where he showcased his ability to drift wide, cut inside and deliver incisive passes. Everton remain keen on retaining his services, but Sunderland believe they can offer a more prominent role.
In recent weeks Grealish has featured as a substitute for City, appearing in the Community Shield loss to Arsenal and the league opener against Bournemouth. Those brief appearances have underscored his readiness to contribute at the highest level, even as City’s own wide‑forward options have been depleted. Manchester City have recently lost two of their squad members, Savio and Omar Marmoush, after agreeing to sell both players to Tottenham Hotspur.
Savio’s move has already been completed, while Marmoush is in the final stages of his transfer. This exodus has left City with a shortage of natural wide attackers, a problem that has been aggravated by a short‑term calf injury to Jeremy Doku, which is expected to keep him sidelined for two to three weeks. In response, City have turned their attention to the South American market, targeting 22‑year‑old Allan from Palmeiras as a potential replacement for Savio, although his transfer is still pending.
The club is also monitoring the situation at Liverpool, where Cody Gakpo has emerged as a possible addition to the squad. Nevertheless, at present Enzo Maresca’s side has only a handful of senior players who can operate as true wide forwards: Antoine Semenyo and Jack Grealish. While Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki have been deployed on the wings in the past, they are more often used in central attacking roles, leaving the flanks relatively thin. Sunderland’s pursuit of Igor Paixao remains a parallel priority.
Sunderland’s manager, Regís Le Bris, has already lodged a bid for the Brazilian striker, who impressed during his spell at Marseille after a failed move to Leeds United last summer. The French club is reportedly in need of funds, which could accelerate negotiations, but Sunderland’s primary objective remains securing a quality winger to complement any new signings. In addition to Grealish and Paixao, Sunderland have been in protracted talks with Sporting Lisbon regarding Mozambican winger Geny Catamo. Catamo’s release clause stands at £51.4 million, a figure that reflects his growing reputation in the Portuguese league.
While that price tag is substantial, Sunderland’s scouting department believes his pace, dribbling ability and eye for goal could make him a valuable long‑term asset. Beyond these headline targets, the club’s transfer list includes a variety of players across different leagues and price points, ranging from promising youngsters to experienced free agents. Notable names and their associated fees include: - 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 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 scouting network and their willingness to explore both permanent and temporary solutions to strengthen the squad. While some of the listed players are free agents or loan options, others command significant transfer fees, indicating the club’s flexibility in balancing financial prudence with the desire to compete effectively.
In summary, Sunderland’s transfer strategy this window is anchored by the pursuit of high‑profile wingers such as Jack Grealish and Igor Paixao, supplemented by a suite of additional targets that could provide depth and competition across the roster. The club’s management appears keen to act swiftly, especially given the evolving situation at Manchester City, where injuries and departures have opened a window of opportunity for a player of Grealish’s calibre to seek regular first‑team football. Should Sunderland succeed in securing any of these moves, they will significantly enhance their attacking options and potentially improve their standing in the league for the remainder of the season.