The agent of Paulinho has claimed that Sunderland are preparing a bid for the Livorno striker.
The 27-year-old Brazilian helped his side gain promotion back to Serie A last season.
"Abroad, I think that [Paolo] Di Canio's Sunderland are planning to make an offer soon, and then every day I always read new teams are interested in the press," Eugenio Ascari told Tuttomercatoweb.com.
Sampdoria are understood to be leading the chase to sign Paulinho ahead of the new campaign.