Sunderland In Transfer Battle With Aston Villa For 18-goal Striker

Sunderland and their fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are reportedly chasing in-form Athletico Paranaense striker Kevin Viveros ahead of the mid-season transfer window.

Colombian international Viveros has been in stunning goalscoring form for the currently third-placed Brazilian top flight outfit, with 18 goals and three assists in just 26 outings in his second season for the club.

As a result of his stellar striking feat, the Black Cats and their Premier League rivals Aston Villa have shown interest in signing the centre-forward in the coming transfer windows, and have been given further hope of prizing the 26-year-old away from Athletico Paranaense amid Viveros' contract dispute.

According to outlet Globo Esporte, contract extension talks between Athletico Paranaense and their star player Viveros have stalled, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2028.

Therefore, if Viveros makes clear to his parent club that he intends not to pen an extension with the Brazilian top flight outfit, Paranaense could seek to cash in on the impressive frontman in a coming transfer window, given the interest from Sunderland and Aston Villa.

According to Transfermarkt, Viveros' current market value sits at the £17m mark, but the Brazilian outfit could feasibly command a fee upwards of £20m for their standout striker, who is currently at the summit of the league's top goalscorer tally.

However, considering the calibre of forward that the two-capped Colombian international seems to be and the needs of Regis Le Bris' Sunderland squad, the Black Cats must beat Villa to Viveros' signature.

Viveros' profile exudes some impressive goalscoring statistics, of which will have been reasons behind the interest from Sunderland's transfer team.

On the surface, 18 goals in 26 games is exceptional in any top flight league, showcasing his clinical nature in front of goal, with that tally coming from just 45 shots on target, taking his total record to 29 in 57 for Athletico Paranaense since joining in July 2025.

Further to his goalscoring exploits, Viveros possesses an incredible athletisicm, with his explosive pace and physical profile making him well-equipped to deal with the demands of Premier League football.

Viveros still bodes some rawness within his game, but his technical prowess and game intelligence have clearly improved over recent seasons, which has combined to lead to his stunning 18-goal campaign.

In regards to Le Bris' Sunderland squad, the Black Cats have impressive forward duo Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor in their ranks with 18-year-old prospect Juan Angulo yet to make his senior Black Cats debut after arriving late on deadline for £5m.

With Brobbey's recent hamstring injury issue picked up on international duty for the Netherlands, and Angulo being more of a prospect rather than a potential starter, the need for another addition to the Sunderland goalscoring ranks makes clear sense ahead of the January transfer window.

Additionally, with Italian giants Juventus showing transfer interest in Brobbey, Viverous could be a suitable future replacement for Brobbey should the Black Cats cash in on the Dutch striker in a coming transfer window.

Viveros' goalscoring prowess and potential for further improvement at just 26-years-of-age is undeniable, and now it remains to be seen whether he will end up penning a new deal at his parent Brazilian top flight club, or if either Sunderland or Villa will make a big-money play to sign the in-form frontman.