It is an open secret at this point that Sunderland are looking to make an addition to their ranks on the left side of their attack before the deadline slams shut.
The Black Cats had emerged as contenders to sign former England international Jack Grealish from Manchester City, after he spent last season on loan at Everton.
However, the Toffees are now advancing in talks to bring the attacking midfielder back to Merseyside for a second spell, and he is said to favour a return to David Moyes’ side.
That means that Regis Le Bris and the recruitment team may need to look elsewhere in their pursuit of a deal for a new left winger before the end of the window.
Missing out on Grealish is a blessing in disguise for Sunderland
Missing out on a deal to sign Grealish on loan from Manchester City may end up being a blessing in disguise for Sunderland, because he would only have been a short-term fix.
He turns 31 later this month and would not be a signing with long-term potential at the Stadium of Light, particularly as he may have only joined on a season-long loan.
The experienced star has scored 29 goals and provided 37 assists in 211 appearances in the Premier League for City, Everton, and Aston Villa combined, but his best years look to be behind him.
Since his £100m move to The Etihad in the summer of 2021, Grealish has yet to reach the heights that he hit during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns with Villa in the top-flight.
|
Grealish’s PL record since 2019 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Goals |
Assists |
|
25/26 |
2 |
6 |
|
24/25 |
1 |
1 |
|
23/24 |
3 |
1 |
|
22/23 |
5 |
7 |
|
21/22 |
3 |
3 |
|
20/21 |
6 |
12 |
|
19/20 |
8 |
6 |
Sunderland, therefore, should not be too upset that the player has opted to pursue a return to Everton because they could find a more effective attacking outlet elsewhere in the market.
How Sunderland can land a better signing than Jack Grealish
In fact, the club are already said to be eyeing up a move for a player who would arrive at the Stadium of Light as an even better option than Grealish on the left flank.
Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie reports that Sunderland are interested in a deal to sign Lyon winger Malick Fofana before the end of the summer transfer window.
The reporter claims that the Black Cats are considering a swoop for the Belgian youngster as an alternative to Grealish and Marseille forward Igor Paixao.
Downie adds that the Ligue 1 starlet is viewed as a viable option for the club in the closing hours of the transfer window, as deals for their other targets have stalled in recent days.
Journalist Santi Aouna recently reported that Hull City made an offer of around £30m for the forward, before he rejected them, which means that Sunderland may have to reach that kind of level if they want to agree a fee with Lyon.
An ankle injury caused the winger to miss 26 matches in the 2025/26 campaign, disrupting his progress, but he has started the current season with two goals in six appearances.
|
Malick Fofana (24/25) |
Ligue 1 |
Europa League |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
29 |
10 |
|
xG |
3.86 |
2.17 |
|
Goals |
5 |
6 |
|
Big chances created |
6 |
1 |
|
xA |
4.39 |
1.19 |
|
Assists |
4 |
1 |
In his last season of regular football, in the 2024/25 campaign, Fofana racked up 11 goals and five assists in Ligue 1 and the Europa League combined on the left wing.
The 21-year-old talent showed that he can provide a regular threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals, and proved that he can make an impact in the Europa League, which Sunderland will need this season.
Whilst Grealish has not scored more than three goals in all competitions in a single season since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, Fofana reached 11 goals for Lyon in the 2024/25 season.
He has also scored four goals in 22 games since the start of last term, despite dealing with a long-term ankle injury, which is further evidence of his goalscoring quality.
The Belgium international, therefore, would be a much better signing for Sunderland because he could make a greater impact at the top end of the pitch, whilst also being a permanent signing with long-term potential.
Instead of a short-term fix on loan, Fofana would be an investment who could grow and develop over time, providing value over multiple seasons for the Black Cats.