Sunderland renew Geny Catamo pursuit with €40m bid plan for Sporting winger

Sunderland have renewed their pursuit of Sporting winger Geny Catamo and are preparing an improved offer that could reach €40 million. The Premier League club have also made enquiries about securing a work permit for the 25-year-old Mozambique international.

Sporting rejected Sunderland’s opening proposal, which was worth €30m plus €10m in performance-related bonuses. Only €1.5m of the additional €10m was viewed as straightforward to achieve, leaving the Portuguese club dissatisfied with the structure of the bid.

Sunderland have now made Catamo a priority target and are planning another approach. The proposed package is understood to involve at least €35m, with achievable bonuses included, while another structure under consideration would provide Sporting with a €40m guaranteed fee and a further €8m in variables.

Sporting’s position is that negotiations will only begin if the fixed portion reaches €40m. The club could also insist on Catamo’s €60m release clause being paid if Sunderland wait until the final week of the transfer window to make their move.

Sunderland remain confident of completing the deal and are considering a late-window push to limit Sporting’s opportunity to negotiate with other interested clubs. They are not expected to exceed €40m in guaranteed money, despite the Portuguese side’s higher valuation through the release clause.

Catamo is reportedly open to leaving Sporting, where he believes his salary does not reflect his performances. Sunderland’s proposed contract would increase his earnings fivefold to €3m net per season, giving him the opportunity to move to the Premier League and secure the biggest contract of his career.

The winger has become frustrated by previous Sporting decisions to reject interest from clubs in England and Italy. Former Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde has argued that Catamo should take the chance to test himself in another league, while Sporting would eventually need to consider a sale if the financial terms suit the club.