Sunderland striker Eliezer Mayenda is not on Porto’s radar, according to club sources. This is despite reports in the UK claiming the two clubs were close to reaching an agreement.
Earlier on Monday, suggestions emerged that the Portuguese giants were advancing towards a deal for the 21-year-old. Those claims have now been firmly dismissed.
According to O Jogo, the Spanish youth international “is not even referenced” by Porto’s recruitment department. He does not feature in the club’s transfer plans.
That represents a clear contradiction to the earlier reports. The newspaper states the Black Cats forward has never been under consideration by the Portuguese side.
Last month, reports suggested the Sunderland forward had caught the attention of “several ambitious European clubs”. However, the only side to emerge by name was French outfit Stade Rennais. Until now, Porto had not featured in the picture at all.
Rumours quickly shut down
Eliezer Mayenda has become an increasingly important figure at Sunderland since arriving from Sochaux in 2023.
After a short loan spell with Hibernian, he established himself in the first-team squad over the last two seasons.
Capable of playing through the middle or on the right wing, he made 23 senior appearances last season. He scored twice and registered one assist. Furthermore, he featured once for Sunderland’s Under-21 side during the campaign.
Still only 21, Mayenda remains under a long-term contract running until June 2030. Therefore, Sunderland are in a strong negotiating position should interest emerge from elsewhere this summer.
Transfermarkt currently values the forward at around €16m (£13.8m), although there is no indication Porto are preparing an offer after all.
What this means for Sunderland
Eliezer Mayenda’s name has now been removed from the equation as far as Porto are concerned.
While transfer speculation involving young Sunderland players is likely to continue following the club’s return to the Premier League, O Jogo insists there is no substance to suggestions linking Mayenda with the Portuguese club.
