Sunderland’s attempts to revive their summer efforts for winger Geny Catamo in the January transfer window could be scuppered by Sporting Club de Portugal.
The Portuguese club are working to sing the winger to a new deal with an increased release clause. That would make a January exit unlikely.
Sunderland tried their utmost to sign Catamo throughout the summer transfer window, seeing several bids for the 25-year-old rejected by Sporting. Sport Witness have reported since that they plan to revive their efforts in January.
Sporting plan ahead
But A Bola now report that Sporting intend to get ahead of the game and lock Catamo down to ward off any interest in him.
The newspaper states that the Portuguese club are currently focusing on contract renewals before the market reopens in January. Negotiations with various players will accelerate in the coming days.
The plan to lock Catamo down is being done ‘at high speed’. The winger is set to be rewarded with a salary increase and two additional years on his deal. The renewal is a direct response to Sunderland’s summer efforts.
They offered €33m plus €7m for the winger, as well as putting a contract on the table worth five times his current packet. He would have gone from €600,000 to €3m per season.
Reward
Now the Portuguese club’s administration want to reward him with a new deal before the January transfer window. They also want to lock down a new release clause, increasing his current one from €60m to €80m.
Talks will progress this month with the aim of reaching a quick agreement. The plan is to lock down Catamo and other key players before any interested parties – like Sunderland – can revive their interest in January.
Whether that stops the Black Cats coming back, remains to be seen. But it appears Sporting plan to make things more difficult, nonetheless.
