Agent: 'Sunderland preparing Paulinho bid'

The agent of Paulinho has claimed that Sunderland are preparing a bid for the Livorno striker.

The 27-year-old Brazilian helped his side gain promotion back to Serie A last season.

"Abroad, I think that [Paolo] Di Canio's Sunderland are planning to make an offer soon, and then every day I always read new teams are interested in the press," Eugenio Ascari told Tuttomercatoweb.com.

Sampdoria are understood to be leading the chase to sign Paulinho ahead of the new campaign.