Sunderland transfer news: £55.2m duo agree personal terms as Newcastle United move for Florent Ghisolfi target
Sunderland have reportedly agreed personal terms with two major targets, while Newcastle United are now being linked with a Florent Ghisolfi target
Sunderland are working on several significant deals heading towards Tuesday night’s transfer deadline, with a reported £34.2million offer submitted for Marseille winger Igor Paixao and talks reopened with Tottenham over Kevin Danso.
The Black Cats are also being linked again with Roma attacker Matias Soule, this time alongside Newcastle United, while Jocelin Ta Bi is closing in on a move to Burnley after being left out of Régis Le Bris’ squad against Fulham.
Sunderland head into the final days of the window on the back of their first Premier League win, having beaten Fulham 1-0 at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats were far from their best for long periods and struggled to create chances against a Fulham side happy to sit off and deny space. Régis Le Bris’ substitutions eventually changed the game, with Habib Diarra and Wilson Isidor making an immediate impact from the bench.
Isidor hit the post before converting from Diarra’s low cross to secure all three points. Encouragingly, Fulham failed to register a single shot on target across the 90 minutes. Le Bris admitted there was room for improvement, but Sunderland showed resilience to find a way through late on and get their campaign moving before attention turns fully towards the final days before Tuesday's transfer deadline. Here, we take you through the latest transfer news and gossip:
Igor Paixao
Sunderland have reportedly submitted an offer worth up to £34.2million for Paixao as they continue their pursuit of the 26-year-old Marseille attacker. Brazilian outlet Globo reports that the proposal consists of around £26.5million guaranteed plus another £7.7million in potential bonuses. The original figures reported were €31million plus €9million, taking the overall package to €40million.
Paixao has emerged as one of Sunderland’s primary attacking targets and this is considerably stronger than many of the names being linked with the Black Cats in the final days of the window. Sunderland have been negotiating with Marseille and the player is understood to be open to the move, although there is still no agreement between the clubs.
Marseille head coach Bruno Genesio was asked about Paixao after his side’s latest game but offered little indication over whether the winger could leave. “I Have no further information about Igor [Paixao]. On the other hand as Greg and the president have said, there won't be any new signings.”
Sunderland are looking to add another versatile forward before the deadline, and Paixao fits that profile, having operated from both flanks during his career.
Kevin Danso
Sunderland have also returned to the table for Tottenham defender Danso after their initial attempt to sign the Austria international on loan was rejected. The BBC reports that Sunderland and Tottenham are now discussing a permanent transfer for the 27-year-old centre-back. Club-to-club talks are said to be progressing, although there is no agreement yet and Tottenham could require a replacement before sanctioning his departure.
TalkSPORT has reported that Danso has already agreed personal terms with Sunderland. That goes slightly further than the BBC report, which states personal terms are not expected to represent an issue if the clubs can settle on a fee. Tottenham initially signed Danso on loan from Lens in February 2025 before making the transfer permanent. Spurs paid around £21million for the defender, who has since informed head coach Roberto De Zerbi that he wants to leave.
Danso is also particularly well known to Sunderland sporting director Florent Ghisolfi. He previously attempted to sign the defender during his time at Roma, only for that move to collapse before Danso eventually ended up at Tottenham. Sunderland would ideally like to strengthen defensively before the deadline. Their first loan approach was unsuccessful, but the switch towards permanent talks represents a significant development.
Matias Soule
Sunderland are still being linked with a renewed move for Roma winger Soule, although this one should still be treated more cautiously than the Paixao and Danso developments. TEAMtalk reports that Sunderland remain interested in the 23-year-old Argentina international and claims Newcastle United have now entered the race. Soule was already on Sunderland’s radar earlier this summer, when the Black Cats made an approach but were unable to agree a deal with Roma.
The Serie A club were previously reported to value Soule at around £30million, based on an asking price of approximately €35million. Roma are now said to be considering allowing him to leave if they can complete their own attacking business before the deadline.
There is an obvious Sunderland connection through Ghisolfi, who was at Roma when Soule joined from Juventus. TEAMtalk claims Sunderland have continued to explore his situation while also negotiating for Paixao, with Newcastle now adding him to their own attacking shortlist.
Jocelin Ta Bi
Ta Bi appears increasingly likely to leave Sunderland before Tuesday’s deadline, with Burnley now closing in on the 21-year-old Ivorian winger. Ta Bi was given permission to travel for talks with Burnley after being omitted from Sunderland’s squad for the 1-0 win over Fulham at the Stadium of Light.
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Sunderland paid around £3million for Ta Bi earlier this year and retain considerable belief in his long-term potential. He has attracted interest from several clubs in England and France, with a move away viewed as an opportunity to secure more regular senior football. Le Bris also hinted before the Fulham game that Ta Bi could leave on loan. Burnley have now made the strongest move, with his absence from Sunderland’s matchday squad another indication that a departure is getting closer.