Sunderland remain active ahead of the deadline, with Jack Grealish fading, Igor Paixao talks ongoing and several other names linked.
Sunderland remain hopeful of making additions before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline, with Igor Paixao still a primary target and defensive reinforcements also under consideration.
The Black Cats explored an ambitious move for Jack Grealish, but Everton are now making progress on a deal to take the Manchester City attacker back to Merseyside. Sunderland have also been linked with Malick Fofana and Matias Soule, while Trai Hume continues to attract outside interest.
Sunderland are approaching the deadline from a position of strength rather than desperation, but there is still work to do. The club want quality over numbers and will only move if the right opportunities become available across attack and defence before Tuesday night’s deadline.
Jack Grealish
Sunderland’s chances of signing Grealish now look slim, with Everton advancing in talks over another loan for the 30-year-old Manchester City attacker. The Black Cats registered an interest in what would have been one of the most eye-catching deals of the window, but Grealish is understood to favour a return to Everton after spending last season there.
TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook reported on Sunday that Everton could cover up to 90 per cent of Grealish’s City wages. Fabrizio Romano also reported that talks are advanced and the player wants the move. Everton are understood to be progressing with Iliman Ndiaye’s proposed move to Tottenham, with Richarlison heading the other way in a separate deal. That would create another vacancy in David Moyes’ forward line and help explain the fresh push for Grealish. Nothing is completed, but Sunderland now look increasingly unlikely to win the race.
Igor Paixao
Paixao remains one of Sunderland’s strongest attacking targets heading into the final days of the window. The 26-year-old Marseille winger is reportedly open to joining Sunderland, but talks between the clubs are continuing, and no agreement has been reached. The attaker has been left out of the latest squad
Marseille signed Paixao from Feyenoord last summer for €30million plus €5million in bonuses, around £25.7million rising to £30million. French reports have suggested the Ligue 1 club want to make a profit. Paixao matters because Sunderland are still looking for another versatile attacker. Regis Le Bris has hinted heavily that he would welcome another forward who can operate across more than one position. Sunderland have other options, but Paixao remains a primary target rather than a speculative name.
Malick Fofana
Sunderland have also been linked with Lyon winger Fofana, although this remains external reporting rather than a move established from the Black Cats’ side. Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna reported that Sunderland are among the clubs interested in the 21-year-old Belgium international. He also reported that Fofana rejected an approach from Hull City because he wants a move to a bigger club. Fofana’s representatives are said to have offered him to several sides, including Arsenal.
Hull were reported to have discussed a package worth €35million, around £30million, while Lyon have previously been credited with seeking at least €40million, roughly £34million. It is one to note, but the Paixao pursuit is considerably stronger at this stage.
Matias Soule
Fulham are now in talks over Matias Soule, another attacker Sunderland have been linked with previously. Sky Sport Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported on Sunday that discussions are ongoing between Fulham and Roma for the 23-year-old Argentina winger. Sunderland and Fulham were both linked with Soule earlier in the summer, when Roma’s asking price was reported at just over €35million, around £30million.
There is a clear Sunderland connection because sporting director Florent Ghisolfi was at Roma when Soule joined from Juventus, but there has been no indication recently that the Black Cats are actively pursuing him. Fulham’s talks therefore should not be framed as Sunderland missing out on a current deal. At this stage, it is a previous link rather than one of the club’s clearest live pursuits.
Kevin Danso
Sunderland would also ideally like another defender before the deadline and Tottenham centre-back Kevin Danso remains a player they have explored. The Echo reported on Friday, after checks with sources on both sides, that Tottenham had rejected Sunderland’s loan approach for the 27-year-old Austria international.
Spurs paid around £21million to sign Danso permanently from Lens. Sunderland sporting director Ghisolfi also knows the player from a previous attempt to sign him while working at Roma. Tottenham’s initial answer was negative, so this is not an advanced Sunderland deal. It does show the level and profile of defender the club have been looking at in the final days of the window.
Trai Hume
Sunderland have no interest in selling Hume despite Everton being linked with the Northern Ireland international. Reports have suggested Everton are considering a move for the 24-year-old, who signed a new Sunderland contract running until 2030 last season.
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Hume remains central to Le Bris’ plans and his versatility has become even more valuable with Sunderland now balancing Premier League and Europa League football. Asked directly whether Hume remained part of his plans amid the speculation, Le Bris said: “Absolutely. You never know in football or life but for me there's no question.”
That reflects Sunderland’s position. Hume is not a player they are looking to move on, and it would take a significant change in circumstances for that stance to shift before the deadline. Sunderland are still working on several fronts, but the clearest priorities remain Paixao, another defender if the right deal opens up, and potentially one more versatile attacking option.
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