Sunderland’s pursuit of Sporting CP winger Geny Catamo remains unresolved as of 17 September, with the two clubs still apart on valuation despite weeks of reported negotiation. This update brings together the latest figures circulating in the Portuguese press and sets out where talks stand heading into the autumn.
H2: September transfer update: Where Sunderland stand on Geny Catamo
Sunderland’s interest in Catamo has not gone away, but no agreement has been reached with Sporting CP over a transfer. The Mozambique international remains a Sporting player and has continued to feature for the Lisbon club this season.
Catamo started both of Sporting’s opening league fixtures, providing an assist in each. That form has done nothing to cool Sunderland’s interest, though it has arguably strengthened Sporting’s resolve to hold out for a higher fee.
Any deal would also need to clear a significant hurdle: Catamo’s contract at Sporting contains a release clause of €60m (£52m), a figure well above anything reported so far in negotiations. Regis Le Bris is looking to add more attacking output to a squad whose key performers at the Stadium of Light already give some sense of what a new wide player would be joining.
H2: Initial Sporting CP bid and reported salary offer
According to A Bola and media reports in Portugal, Sunderland’s opening move for Catamo was rejected by Sporting. That offer was said to be worth €30m (£26m) paid up front, with a further €10m (£8.7m) available in add-ons, plus a 10% sell-on clause for any future transfer.
Sporting’s rejection reportedly centred on the size of the guaranteed fee rather than the overall package, with the club said to be reluctant to let a key player leave for less than they believe he is worth given his contract’s €60m release clause.
On personal terms, Portuguese media reports suggest Sunderland have proposed a net salary of around €3m (£2.6m) a year for Catamo. According to media estimates, that would represent roughly a fivefold increase on his current earnings at Sporting, put at around £520,000 net per year. None of these figures have been confirmed by either club.
H2: Geny Catamo Sunderland rumors: Is an improved bid coming?
Yes, according to media reports Sunderland are considering going back in with an improved offer. Reports suggest the club is prepared to raise the guaranteed up-front portion of its proposal towards €40m (£34.7m), a notable increase on the initial €30m offer.
Nothing has been finalised, and Sporting have not been reported as accepting any revised terms. The reported change reflects Sunderland’s continued determination to get a deal done rather than confirmation that one is close.
Media reports have also described Catamo as unhappy when his suitors’ first bid was knocked back, though there is no suggestion he has pushed for a move away from Sporting or lodged a formal transfer request. He has continued to play and perform for the club throughout.
H2: What happens next
With Sporting holding firm and Sunderland reportedly weighing a higher bid, the situation looks set to run for some time yet. A fee anywhere near the €60m release clause still looks unlikely to be tested, leaving both sides room to negotiate a lower figure if Sporting’s resistance softens.
Squad planning at the Stadium of Light continues regardless of the outcome, as shown by Regis Le Bris’s squad rotation plans ahead of recent fixtures, with wide areas among the positions the head coach continues to assess.
For the background to how this pursuit developed, read our original report on Sunderland’s move for Geny Catamo. This page will be updated as further reports emerge from Portugal and England on the state of negotiations.
