Sunderland Targets Jack Grealish in Late Transfer Push

Sunderland are making an ambitious late move for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish as they hunt for extra firepower out wide before the window closes.

The Black Cats want the 30-year-old on loan, with the England international now into the final year of his City contract. A straight loan is the preferred route, but a permanent transfer is also on the table as Sunderland weigh up how aggressively to attack this market.

They are not stopping at one target either. Talks are ongoing with Marseille over Brazilian winger Igor Paixao, with Sunderland pushing hard to add pace and creativity in wide areas.

Sunderland sense an opening

Grealish spent last season on loan at Everton and the Merseyside club remain keen to bring him back. Yet Sunderland have stepped into the race, sensing an opportunity as his City future hangs in the balance.

He has started the season on the fringes at the Etihad, used only from the bench in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal and again in City’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth.

Under normal circumstances, City might shut the door on an exit. These are not normal circumstances.

Savio and Omar Marmoush have both been sold to Tottenham, one deal already completed and the other close. Jeremy Doku has picked up a calf injury that rules him out for two to three weeks. Suddenly, City are light in the very area Sunderland want to raid.

For now, Enzo Maresca has just two senior, natural wide men: Antoine Semenyo and Grealish. Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki can operate out wide, but Maresca often prefers them in central roles. That reality could yet complicate Sunderland’s push.

City are trying to rebuild their depth. A deal is lined up for 22-year-old Brazilian Allan from Palmeiras as a replacement for Savio, though it is not completed. Cody Gakpo at Liverpool is also on their radar as they weigh further attacking additions.

Any movement on Grealish will hinge on how quickly City can close those incoming deals – and how much risk they are willing to take with their wing options.

Paixao and Catamo also in Sunderland’s sights

While they wait on Grealish, Sunderland are pushing ahead with other winger targets.

Regis Le Bris’ side have made a firm move for Igor Paixao, submitting a bid to Marseille earlier this week. Leeds tried to sign the Brazilian last summer before he chose Ligue 1, but Marseille now need to raise funds and are open to talks.

Negotiations are ongoing, with Sunderland’s priority absolutely clear: sign at least one winger, preferably two.

They have also spent weeks in discussions with Sporting Lisbon over Mozambique international Geny Catamo. The 23-year-old has a £51.4m release clause in Portugal, a figure that underlines how highly Sporting value him and how complicated any deal could become.

A busy summer at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland’s window has already been frantic.

• In:
• Dayann Methalie – Toulouse, £25.7m
• Jules Ahoka – Royal Antwerp, £8m
• Thomas Meunier – Lille, free
• Ethan Berry – Crystal Palace, free
• Adam Nelson – Glentoran, free
• Out:
• Eleizer Mayenda – Rennes, £22m
• Anthony Patterson – Wrexham, £10m
• Ahmed Abdullahi – Eyupspor, undisclosed
• Harrison Jones – Peterborough, undisclosed
• Zak Johnson – York, undisclosed
• Nazariy Rusyn – Karpaty Lviv, undisclosed
• Timothee Pembele – Le Havre, undisclosed
• Dennis Cirkin – QPR, free
• Oliver Bainbridge – Boreham Wood, free
• Tom Lavery – Gateshead, free
• Dan Neil – Rangers, free
• Rhys Walsh – Glentoran, free
• Milan Aleksic – Partizan Belgrade, loan
• Matty Young – Huddersfield, loan
• Bertrand Traore – released
• Niall Huggins – released

It has been a reshaping rather than a simple refresh, with major outgoings and targeted incomings. What it still lacks is a statement signing in the wide areas.

That is where Grealish, Paixao and Catamo come in. Sunderland have put themselves in the conversation for all three.

Now the question is simple: can they turn aggressive intent into one big deal that changes the feel of their season?