Livorno striker Paulinho is being targeted by a number of Italian clubs and Premier League side Sunderland, according to his agent.
The 27-year-old has attracted interest from a number of Serie A clubs after helping Livorno secure promotion back to the top flight.
And the Brazilian has also caught the eye of Black Cats boss Paulo Di Canio, who is looking to bolster his squad to avoid a repeat of the club's relegation battle last season.
"Sampdoria's offer is the most concrete, they have followed Paulinho for two-three months and we have already had some contact with them," Paulinho's agent Eugenio Ascari told tuttomercatoweb.com.
"Abroad, I think that 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."
Weir, 43, who signed a three-year contract on Monday to replace Danny Wilson as the club's permanent boss, is keen to bring in one or two new coaches.
"That's not concluded yet so I'd rather speak about that when it happens," the former Scotland defender said.
"But I've obviously got people in mind who I think can help me and can help the club and will be of a similar mindset to me.
"They would bring complimentary things that could help make us successful. We're in the process of doing that and I hope to conclude that soon, but until it's over the line I'll leave it at that."
The former Everton and Rangers centre-half said he was excited about working with the latest crop of young talent to emerge at the club, while Chris Morgan, appointed caretaker-manager when Wilson was sacked with five games of the regular season remaining, will stay on the coaching staff.
"First and foremost I want to use the players we've got here," Weir added. "We've got good players at Sheffield United, I know how good some of them are and how good some of them can be.
"So that's my starting point. I want to work with young players, I want to get the young players here in the team if and when they're ready, but show them there is a pathway.
"And I want to add to that, to get good players in and compliment the ones already here and that's a challenge because it's difficult, there's a lot of clubs looking for the same thing."
Teenage goalkeeper George Long and central defender Harry Maguire both established themselves in the starting line-up last season, while the likes of Callum McFadzean, Joe Ironside and Jordan Chappell all made their first-team breakthrough.
