Sunderland pushing for Igor Paixão but personal terms claim questioned

Sunderland remain at the front of the race to sign Marseille attacker Igor Paixão, but reports that the Black Cats have already agreed personal terms with the Brazilian have now been questioned.

The 26-year-old appears increasingly likely to leave Marseille before Tuesday's transfer deadline, with the French club under financial pressure to complete a sale.

However, according to La Provence, Sunderland have not yet submitted an offer Marseille consider acceptable, while the newspaper has also been unable to confirm claims that Paixão has agreed terms with the Premier League club.

Sunderland have been pushing hard to secure Paixão throughout the past week and remain his most prominent suitor.

Previous reports suggested an agreement had already been reached with the player, potentially leaving the clubs to negotiate the transfer fee.

La Provence presents a more cautious picture.

The French newspaper reports that the situation has changed little since the beginning of the week. Sunderland remain interested and are actively pursuing the deal, but Marseille are still waiting for a satisfactory proposal.

Marseille had been seeking around €40million earlier in the summer, although their financial circumstances could influence the final price.

A departure before Tuesday's deadline is currently considered the most likely outcome for Paixão.

Marseille need to generate funds as they deal with UEFA financial requirements and pressure from French financial regulator DNCG.

That means waiting until January in the hope of receiving a higher fee is viewed as a considerable risk.

Paixão has also been absent from regular training for the past three days as uncertainty surrounding his future increases.

He could potentially feature against Monaco on Sunday for what would be a final Marseille appearance, although a transfer before then cannot be ruled out.

The player's position remains another important element.

While several reports have claimed Paixão has agreed personal terms with Sunderland, La Provence says it has been unable to verify that information.

Those involved in negotiations are reportedly keeping details private, with one source telling the newspaper that “nothing is set in stone.”

Paixão is understood to still be considering his options, meaning Sunderland have work remaining on both sides of the potential transfer.

Marseille's need to sell gives the Black Cats a potentially strong negotiating position, but they must still find a package capable of satisfying the Ligue 1 club.

Sunderland need to improve their proposal sufficiently to reach an agreement with Marseille, while Paixão's personal position also needs to be finalised.

With Marseille motivated to generate funds and the deadline approaching, the conditions remain favourable for a late transfer. However, despite Sunderland leading the pursuit, the deal is not yet as advanced as previous reports suggested.