Sunderland can have a fresh opportunity to sign Sporting’s Geny Catamo in the winter market, after missing out on him in the summer window.
Last season, the winger scored eight goals and contributed five assists from 47 matches. In February, the Primeira Liga side rewarded him with a contract until 2029.
However, that didn’t stop him from attracting interest from Sunderland and other clubs in the summer.
The Black Cats weren’t successful in getting the deal over the line and can have another shot in January.
Why Sunderland failed in summer
In August, Sport Witness covered multiple reports from Portugal explaining that Régis Le Bris’ side tabled a €40m bid. One source stated it included €30m in fixed fee while the other said the fixed fee was around €33m.
The details won’t matter because the Portuguese club didn’t accept the Premier League side’s bid. The latter finished the window by signing Malick Fofana from Lyon to improve their attack.
Fofana mainly operates on the left wing while the Mozambique international preferred role is on the right wing. Sporting’s decision to hold on to him has paid off as he has two goals and four assists so far this season.
Monday’s print edition of Jornal de Noticias covers the Lions’ stance on letting him leave in the next window.
Sunderland told conditions for signing
Rui Borges and his coaching staff want to hold on to the 25-year-old until the end of this season.
The newspaper again points out Sunderland’s €40m bid and the latest reports from the UK of them not giving up on Geny Catamo. Transfermarkt value him at €35m while he has €80m release clause.
Sporting want to please their manager and hold on to the attacker unless Sunderland or another club were to do a ‘madness’ by offering €60m.
This is €20m more than the English club’s last offer and €20m less than his release clause.
Another Portuguese newspaper, O Jogo, covers the same updates, also citing Sunderland’s failure to sign him in the summer and €60m being needed to take Catamo away in January.
It won’t be wrong to assume that Sporting leaked their price to the local press. It remains to be seen whether the Stadium of Light club will make a fresh attempt in the winter market.
Geny Catamo stats, this season and last
Sporting CP: this season vs last season
| Statistic | 2025/26 Full season |
2026/27 Season so far |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 47 | 10 |
| Minutes played | 3,145 | 755 |
| Goals | 8 | 2 |
| Assists | 3 | 4 |
| Goal contributions | 11 | 6 |
| Minutes per goal | 393.1 | 377.5 |
| Minutes per goal contribution | 285.9 | 125.8 |
| Goal contributions per 90 | 0.31 | 0.72 |
Goal contribution = goal or assist. Assists follow Opta definitions.
The 2026/27 season remains in progress.
