Sunderland are reportedly closing in on an £8million deal for Royal Antwerp midfielder Jules Ahoka, with the club also monitoring Brazilian winger Riquelme Fillipi as they look to strengthen before the transfer window closes on September 2.
The Black Cats have had a quiet summer so far, bringing in only Thomas Meunier and Dayann Methalie, but that is expected to change in the coming days following Saturday's 2-1 Premier League defeat to newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
£8m agreement for Ahoka
Reports from Sky Sports News emerged last week that Sunderland had agreed an £8million deal with Royal Antwerp for the 20-year-old defensive midfielder. The broadcaster also confirmed that the DR Congo international had agreed personal terms and had been granted permission to travel to Wearside for a medical.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Ahoka will see his salary increase 'fifteen-fold' at the Stadium of Light, though his current wages and new salary are unknown. The midfielder missed Antwerp's 4-4 draw with Genk at the weekend, with Rein van Helden confirming he was surprised to learn of Ahoka's imminent departure.
Van Helden said: "On Friday morning, we suddenly heard in the meeting that Jules wouldn't be training with the team because a deal was imminent with a Premier League side. Everyone looked at each other thinking, 'Huh?! How is that possible, after barely four matches for Antwerp?' When you see the steps he has taken this summer, that was truly fantastic. I hope he does well."
Brazilian wonderkid lined up
According to Ontheminute, Sunderland are also eyeing a move for Palmeiras winger Riquelme Fillipi as they look to add creativity in attack. The 19-year-old is being monitored, with no official bid submitted yet.
Fillipi scored 22 goals in 42 games for Palmeiras at U20 level in 2025, and could address Sunderland's struggles on the right-hand side, where Trai Hume failed to make an impact against Ipswich. Nottingham Forest are also interested in the Brazilian.
Chronicle Live's Aaron Morris said the statistics from last season show Fillipi would be an asset in 2026/27, given Sunderland's struggles on the right for the past couple of years. He noted that Hume is better suited at right-back, while Chemsdine Talbi has struggled for consistency and Jocelin Ta Bi is arguably a player for the future.
Morris added that if Fillipi needs time to develop away from Regis Le Bris' first team, Sunderland should focus on finding a Premier League-ready attacker, naming Geny Catamo, Ernest Poku, Mathias Soule, or Amad Diallo as potential targets.
