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Sunderland are exploring a potential loan move for Jack Grealish, with Igor Paixão of Marseille also on Regis Le Bris’s transfer window shopping list
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Football — Louise Taylor and Jamie Jackson
Sunderland are exploring a potential loan move for Jack Grealish, but formal negotiations with Manchester City are yet to take place.
For the moment sources say the former England winger remains one of a number of “players of interest” on Régis Le Bris’s transfer window shortlist, with Sunderland’s manager also keen on Igor Paixão of Marseille.
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The 26-year-old Brazilian winger is understood to be receptive to a transfer to the Stadium of Light but Marseille and Sunderland remain locked in talks over a fee for the former Feyenoord player. Paixão scored 12 goals and contributed eight assists in 43 appearances for Marseille last season but the French club’s financial difficulties mean they are prepared to sell one of their prize assets.
It is possible that Sunderland could acquire both Paixão and Grealish, although a deal for the latter would involve a degree of haggling about the percentage of Grealish’s wages – believed to total £300,000 a week – that Sunderland would be willing to pay. With the 30-year-old out of contract at City next summer, any loan agreement would almost certainly include an option to buy.
Grealish is understood to be open to a move to Wearside. The winger spent much of last season sidelined by a foot injury during a loan stint at Everton, and has recently been spotted out and about in the north-east with Jordan Pickford.
The pair struck up a friendship during Grealish’s time on Merseyside and Pickford, a former Sunderland goalkeeper, delighted in showing his friend a few favourite haunts.
Everton are expected to try to re-sign Grealish on loan but Sunderland can offer one of English football’s “forgotten men” the added attraction of Europa League football.
Grealish would be far from a typical Le Bris signing – young players with potential signed, mainly, from Europe – but his presence could help raise the club’s international profile at a moment when Sunderland’s commercial department are pursuing off field deals as far afield as the United States and Africa.
Nottingham Forest are in talks over the €15m (£12.8m) signing of the Celta Vigo right-back Javi Rueda, which would probably be their final move of the window after signing Liam Delap from Chelsea.
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Oliver Glasner has been seeking someone who can play right wing-back and the 24-year-old former Real Madrid academy player fits the desired profile.
The former Spain youth international joined Celta three years ago from Madrid, who will receive half the fee. He made his first-team breakthrough last season, playing 26 La Liga games and 11 in the Europa League, helping his side to reach the quarter-finals.
Forest confirmed on Wednesday yesterday that the wing-back Eric da Silva Moreira will spend the season on loan to the Dutch side Excelsior to aid his development.
Chelsea have agreed to sell Delap to Forest in a deal worth £50m and have loaned Axel Disasi to Crystal Palace for the season. Disasi has also been loaned out to Aston Villa and West Ham since he signed for Chelsea from Monaco.
The defender said: “I know that it’s very tough to play against Palace at Selhurst Park – so I’m looking forward to being on the other side now.”
Brentford have struck an agreement with West Ham to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf for £35m plus up to £5m in add-ons. The left-back has been keen to leave West Ham since their relegation.
Southampton have contacted West Ham about bringing their former captain, James Ward-Prowse, back to the club. The 31-year-old is out of favour at West Ham and Saints, who were beaten by Nuno Espírito Santo’s side in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, are keen to strengthen in midfield after the £30m sale of Shea Charles to Fulham. Ward-Prowse, who joined Southampton aged eight and made his first-team debut at 16, is one direct free-kick shy of matching David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18 free-kick goals.
Additional reporting from Will Unwin, Jacob Steinberg and Ben Fisher.
For the moment sources say the former England winger remains one of a number of “players of interest” on Régis Le Bris’s transfer window shortlist, with Sunderland’s manager also keen on Igor Paixão of Marseille.
This report is published with credit to The Guardian. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on The Guardian →
Source: The Guardian · Louise Taylor and Jamie Jackson. Published 26 Aug 2026, 07:22 pm.
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