Inside Sunderland’s shock bid to hijack Everton’s Jack Grealish transfer

Sunderland are rivalling Everton in the race to sign Manchester City’s former England winger Jack Grealish. The Black Cats have made an official loan bid to City for Grealish which would cover a significant proportion of his wages and include an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season, when he is out of contract at the Etihad. But The i Paper understands that Everton also remain keen on Grealish, who has been a surprise inclusion in Manchester City’s first two matchday squads under Enzo Maresca. They believe that he would prefer to move back to Merseyside after enjoying his time at Everton last season but Sunderland can offer the prospect of Europa League football. City are open to letting Grealish go in the final days of the window and interest from multiple clubs will allow them to drive more of a hard bargain. Everton are also understood to be looking at alternative targets but their interest in Grealish remains. Grealish featured for City in the Community Shield (Photo: Getty) The Toffees had an option to sign the 30-year-old for £50m at the end of the season but opted not to take it up. They would also prefer a loan move for Grealish, who has only just returned from a serious foot injury suffered during his stint at Everton last season. Sunderland’s interest is ambitious and it would be a major coup if they managed to pull it off. The Black Cats are desperate to sign a left-winger before the September transfer deadline and are also in negotiations for Marseille winger Igor Paixao. The 26-year-old Brazilian is keen to move to England but negotiations over a fee are yet to find a resolution. They also have an interest in Sporting winger Geny Catamo but his fee has proved too expensive. Grealish would be a very different sort of signing but Sunderland proved last season with Granit Xhaka that there is value in signing experienced players capable of lifting the profile and level of the squad. Read more Transfers: Man City’s summer overhaul: A midfielder, a £100m forward and Grealish’s exit The Journeyman: The football club who aren’t allowed to play matches Sunderland have stepped up their recruitment drive this week, adding Jules Ahoka to the signings of Thomas Meunier and Dayann Methalie, who joined from Toulouse last week. A move for Grealish would clearly push their wage structure given he is one of the better paid players at Manchester City, but Sunderland’s revenues have soared since their return to the Premier League and their proposal would keep them within the Uefa financial fair play limits. City are prepared for a “hectic” end to the window after selling Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle for £47m, with a new bid for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez understood to be imminent. Selling Grealish would help pave the way for further additions before 1 September.