Sunderland reportedly submitted an offer to sign Manchester City's Jack Grealish on loan, with a view to signing him permanently upon the expiration of his contract this summer.
Grealish, 30, spent last season on loan at fellow Premier League outfit Everton, but his season was cut short due to an injury sustained in January.
Prior to that, the former Aston Villa man had performed extremely well, scoring two goals and registering six assists in 22 matches for the Toffees.
David Moyes' side had an option to make the move permanent for a fee of £50m in the deal, which they chose not to activate this summer.
Grealish is reportedly surplus to requirements at the Etihad this season, with a number of clubs in the Premier League and across Europe credited with an interest in his services.
Now, according to David Ornstein via The Athletic, Sunderland have formally submitted the offer to Manchester City, with Enzo Maresca's side still likely to cover a decent portion of his wages for the season.
Ornstein also reports that Sunderland would be interested in making the move permanent at the end of the loan, with Grealish's contract set to expire in June 2027.
It is said that any move for the 30-year-old would be alongside their current pursuit of Olympique Marseille's Brazilian winger Igor Paixão, with whom the Black Cats have reportedly agreed personal terms.
It remains to be seen whether or not Manchester City or Grealish will be willing to accept Sunderland's offer, but with the Black Cats heading into a campaign in the UEFA Europa League, they are showing strong ambition to improve on their exceptional showing in 2025/26.
