Sunderland want the 28-year-old on loan, but his club Internacional are only willing to do business this month if the Black Cats agree to a permanent deal.
Poyet faces competition from Argentinian sides River Plate and Newell’s Old Boys for once-capped Scocco, who is keen to move to the Stadium of Light.
His dad Hector said: “Internacional don’t want to loan Ignacio out, and the most likely outcome is that he will join Sunderland. Gus Poyet has told us he’s very interested in Ignacio joining them.”
The Black Cats are on the verge of signing £500,000 Estudiantes defender Santiago Vergini on an 18-month deal.