Aston Villa and Fulham may soon need to make concrete decisions on Geny Catamo. Reports in Portugal now suggest Sporting have offers on their table.

Catamo produced 12 goals and six assists across 55 appearances this campaign. He continued to grow in importance throughout the year.

CNN Portugal state the Mozambique international is increasingly expected to leave this summer. Sporting are targeting a fee in the region of €30m (£26m).

That is the clearest indication yet that the situation has moved beyond simple interest.

The Portuguese outlet claim Sporting are already preparing for possible changes to the squad after confirming midfielder Rodrigo Zalazar’s arrival.

Meanwhile, they are simultaneously facing the prospect of losing one of their standout attacking players from this season.

“Right moment” to leave Sporting

There also appears to be a growing feeling around the player that the timing suits a transfer.

Luís Gonçalves, the coach who first introduced Catamo to the Mozambique national team, openly admitted he believes the winger is ready for the next step.

“I think this is the right moment for Geny Catamo to leave Sporting,” he said in comments relayed by O Jogo.

“He is a player for another level, to join a club with bigger ambitions. With his characteristics, he can make a difference in any league”, he stressed.

It is not the first time that someone suggests he needs to move to a bigger club.

Not a part of next season’s plans

CNN Portugal commentator Nuno Farinha has now pushed the situation even further, claiming Sporting internally already expect Geny Catamo to leave this summer.

Speaking on the broadcaster, Farinha stated Rui Borges has effectively been told not to count on the winger for next season anymore.

He stated: “Sporting have already realised they will probably struggle to keep the player, who now has the opportunity to move towards salary conditions he has never had before and which Sporting probably cannot match either.”

“The only information I don’t have is which clubs have already submitted proposals,” he explained. “But what I know is Sporting have already informed Rui Borges not to count on Geny Catamo next season.”

Farinha also claimed the current gap between Sporting’s demands and the incoming offers is still considerable. Sporting reportedly want around €30m (£26m), while the proposals arriving in Lisbon are closer to €20m (£17m).

Still, he suggested the situation could accelerate quickly if both sides move slightly in negotiations.

“If Sporting lower their demands a little and the offers rise slightly, it is possible that Geny Catamo could be transferred even before the Club World Cup,” he added.

Farinha did not reveal the clubs involved, though he did say one proposal comes from “an important European league”.

Transfer battle moving forward

The most important detail from CNN Portugal’s report may be the claim that Sporting have already received two proposals.

The identities of the clubs involved have not been revealed. However, Aston Villa and Fulham have consistently appeared in Portuguese reporting around Catamo over recent months. In addition, Fiorentina have also been linked strongly from Italy.

Sporting renewed the winger’s contract earlier this year and kept his €60m (£51m) release clause intact. Still, the club now appear increasingly open to a sale if the right offer arrives.

And with the asking price reportedly sitting around €30m (£26m), the race for Catamo may finally be entering the stage where interest turns into real negotiations.

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