Sunderland transfer news: Black Cats ready for second attempt at deal for Brazilian attacker?

Sunderland are reportedly interested in signing Marseille winger Igor Paixao during the January transfer window.

Regis Le Bris's men and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal were known admirers of the 26-year-old during the recent summer trading point, in which the Gunners failed to recruit their first-choice options in attack.

The Premier League champions were supposedly in the hunt for Real Madrid and Brazil superstar Vinicius Jr, who eventually stayed put with Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham at the Bernabeu.

Arsenal's lack of natural left-wing options are hindering them at the beginning of the 2026-27 season, especially with summer recruit Christos Tzolis picking up an injury earlier in the campaign.

A heavily-rotated Gunners XI suffered one of the biggest shocks in EFL Cup history on Tuesday night, when League Two Fleetwood Town booked a spot in the quarter-finals at the expense of the English champions.

Sunderland plotting Paixao punt in January?

According to French publication Foot Marseille, the situation surrounding Marseille's star winger Paixao has changed ahead of the January transfer window, potentially handing Sunderland a major boost.

It is known that the Ligue 1 club rejected multiple advances from the Black Cats for the 26-year-old during the summer, with the left winger staying at Stade Velodrome for the start of this season.

However, it is understood that Marseille are now in desperate need to balance their financial books before June, and a high-profile sale of Paixao would ease the monetary concerns of the club.

The former Feyenoord is supposedly dreaming of a move to the Premier League, where Sunderland are currently battling at the bottom of the standings, fighting to preserve their top-flight status.

It is believed that the chances of the Black Cats attempting a New Year swoop for Paixao are 'high', given their heavy interest in the Brazilian forward during the most recent summer trading point.

Sunderland need attacking reinforcements

Netting a measly six goals across their opening eight top-flight contests of this season, Sunderland possess the joint-worst attacking record in the division alongside Nottingham Forest and Coventry City.

Collecting just a single victory in those eight matches, Le Bris's troops are sitting rock bottom of the Premier League standings, two points from Crystal Palace in the relative safety of 17th place.

There is a clear need for attacking reinforcements at Sunderland during the upcoming January transfer window, with the Black Cats' deficiencies highlighted by the hamstring-related absence of Brian Brobbey.