Sunderland's Late Push for Jack Grealish as City Weigh Wing Options
Sunderland are making a late move to prise Jack Grealish from Manchester City, with both a loan and a permanent transfer on the table as they hunt for wide reinforcements before the window shuts.
The Black Cats want a loan for the 30-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad. But the situation is fluid. A full transfer is under active consideration as Sunderland look to inject proven Premier League quality into their flanks.
They are not stopping at one target either. Sunderland are also working on a deal for Igor Paixao from Marseille as Regis Le Bris pushes hard to reshape his attacking options.
City’s wing dilemma
Grealish’s future is being discussed at a time when Manchester City’s own wide stocks have thinned.
He spent last season on loan at Everton, where he remains a live target, and has started this campaign on the fringes under Enzo Maresca. Grealish came off the bench in City’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal and again in their Premier League opener against Bournemouth.
But City have sold Savio and Omar Marmoush to Tottenham, with Savio already confirmed and Marmoush in the final stages of his move. That double departure has stripped Maresca of two senior wide forwards.
The problem has deepened with a short-term calf injury to Jeremy Doku, sidelining the Belgian for two to three weeks. For now, Maresca is left with just two recognised senior wingers: Antoine Semenyo and Grealish.
Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki can operate out wide, but both are often used in central roles, leaving City’s structure finely balanced as they consider whether they can afford to let Grealish go.
City are set to bring in 22-year-old Brazilian Allan from Palmeiras as a replacement for Savio, though that deal is not yet completed. They are also looking at Cody Gakpo at Liverpool as they weigh further attacking additions. Until those moves are finalised, Grealish’s exit remains a delicate equation.
Sunderland’s winger hunt: Paixao and Catamo
Sunderland’s interest in Igor Paixao is firm. The club submitted a bid to Marseille earlier this week and talks are ongoing.
Marseille need to raise funds, and Sunderland’s priority is clear: they want a winger. Paixao, who turned down Leeds last summer to join the French side, has re-emerged as a key name on Le Bris’ list.
Alongside Paixao, Sunderland have spent weeks in negotiations with Sporting Lisbon for Mozambique winger Geny Catamo. The 23-year-old carries a £51.4m release clause at the Portuguese club, a figure that underlines the scale of any potential deal and the ambition behind Sunderland’s recruitment drive.
Whether they can land both Paixao and Grealish is another matter. But the intent is unmistakable.
Busy window on Wearside
Sunderland’s summer has already been one of heavy traffic at the Stadium of Light.
Arrivals:
- 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
- Adam Nelson from Glentoran on a free
Departures:
- Eleizer Mayenda to Rennes for £22m
- Anthony Patterson to Wrexham for £10m
- Ahmed Abdullahi to Eyupspor, undisclosed
- Harrison Jones to Peterborough, undisclosed
- Zak Johnson to York, undisclosed
- Nazariy Rusyn to Karpaty Lviv, undisclosed
- Timothee Pembele to Le Havre, undisclosed
- Dennis Cirkin to QPR on a free
- Oliver Bainbridge to Boreham Wood on a free
- Tom Lavery to Gateshead on a free
- Dan Neil to Rangers on a free
- Rhys Walsh to Glentoran on a free
- Milan Aleksic to Partizan Belgrade on loan
- Matty Young to Huddersfield on loan
- Bertrand Traore released
- Niall Huggins released
Le Bris has already overseen a significant overhaul. The final days of the window now hinge on one question: can Sunderland convince City to part with Jack Grealish and land the wide firepower to turn a busy summer into a transformative one?
