Sunderland continue to have Sporting Club de Portugal winger Geny Catamo on their radar but are yet to make an official offer.
That’s explained in Thursday’s print edition of A Bola. Catamo remains a firm part of Sporting’s plans for the time being.
Sunderland submitted a proposal to Sporting comprising a fixed fee of €30m plus €10m in variables for the 25-year-old.
Sporting rejected this offer. Sunderland responded immediately and suggested that their intention was to raise the bidding.
However, to date, no new formal proposal has reached Sporting’s offices. That could end up being a problem for the Black Cats.
A Bola say that the closer the transfer window gets to closing, the harder negotiations will become. Sporting’s financial demands will rise as time runs out. The Portuguese side will want a replacement but getting one late will be difficult, so they’ll want compensation for that.
For Catamo, finding an agreement won’t be an issue. Sunderland have offered him roughly five times his current salary and he’s keen to accept.
Sunderland’s slim chances
The print editions of Record and O Jogo have a more bleak outlook for Sunderland’s chances. Sporting now have no intention of selling.
They intend to keep Geny Catamo and will only sell if they receive a ‘massive offer’. Club officials do not believe that will happen.
Sunderland remain interested by no official offer has surfaced since the €30m bid was rejected. Sporting’s board will continue to reject offers unless they are ‘exorbitant’.
They now want €40m just to open negotiations, plus performance-based bonuses that could bring the total package to over €50m. This has been communicated to those in charge at Sunderland.
The Black Cats are willing to raise their bidding to €40m, but that would not be enough. There is a feeling at the Stadium of Light that they will not be able to match Sporting’s demands. Record have learned that Sporting officials believe the bidding won’t go much higher.
€40m not enough
O Jogo, meanwhile, report that Sporting remain unconvinced about a deal. Sunderland have put a €33m offer on the table, plus €7m in performance-based add-ons, but Sporting aren’t convinced about the deal.
The Portuguese side are determined not to lose the winger this summer. They are even prepared to block the deal unless they get the big sums that they’re looking for.
This has been communicated to the player. He is keen on the switch because of the money on offer. However, Sporting have indicated that a new deal could be on the cards, despite him only renewing earlier this year.
They want to keep the winger following a summer of big departures already. And they’re willing to reject big money from Sunderland to do so.
