Sunderland made a late attempt to sign Cruz Azul midfielder Érik Lira during the summer transfer window. According to Record in Mexico, Sunderland began pursuing Lira while Monaco were also working on a move for him. Neither Sunderland nor Monaco were able to complete a deal before the window closed. Lira will now stay at Cruz Azul for the remainder of 2026 unless another suitable market remains open.

According to Récord, Sunderland is interested in Erik Lira, and there is a potential for negotiations to resume in December when the market reopens. Lira was a player of interest to the English club, and Sunderland published a mysterious message on social media that referenced the possibility of making another signing before the transfer market closed.

Premier League club Sunderland made a proposal directly to Cruz Azul for midfielder Erik Lira. Lira and his agency discarded the Sunderland option to prioritize a project with Monaco. In his pursuit of a move to Europe, Lira also turned down an offer from Al Jazira.