'Ideal Moment': Sporting CP Urged To Sell Sunderland Target Geny Catamo Amid £51m Links

Portuguese giants Sporting CP have been urged to sell Sunderland transfer target Geny Catamo in the coming days of the summer transfer window, with the 25-year-old Mozambique international hoping to 'seize this moment' in his footballing career.

His national team boss, Chiquinho Conde has urged his current employers Sporting to consider letting the Sunderland-linked winger leave the club this summer in the aftermath of the Black Cats' interest in his signature.

On Tuesday, reports emerged from James Copley of the Sunderland Echo that Sunderland are interested in signing Sporting winger Catamo this summer, with talks said to be ongoing to explore a potential big-money move.

The report added that Catamo's Sporting contract contains a substantial €60m/£51m release clause, however that could reportedly be negotiated down to a lower fee, which could still constitute a club-record signing from Sunderland if the move materialises.

Following Sunderland's interest in the 33-time-capped Mozambique international becoming public, his national team boss Conde has urged last season's Liga Portugal runners-up to sell Catamo this summer.

For the moment, Sporting have reportedly rejected an opening offer from the Stadium of Light transfer team for Catamo, with the Black Cats set to return to the negotiating table to agree on a fee.

Sporting are said to be reluctant to let marquee talent Catamo leave this summer, following the exits of high-profile players Geovany Quenda to Chelsea, Morten Hjulmand to Atletico Madrid and Trincao to Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, who have netted the club a combined £112m this summer according to FotMob.

However, despite the club's desires to retain Catamo's services as they look to win the Portuguese title back from arch-rivals Porto next season, Sporting have been urged to sell the Sunderland target this summer by his Mozambique boss, Conde.

In an interview with Radio Antena 1, as quoted by transfer journalist Flavio Costa on X, Conde said: "He (Sunderland target Geny Catamo) sees many of his colleagues moving to other leagues with financial advantages.

"A footballer's career doesn't last forever, and he also wants to seize this moment.

"This ends up messing with your subconscious and, honestly, I think that Sporting, sooner or later, will have to let him go, provided the proposal is also good for the club.

"I imagine he’s going through a period of anxiety.

"As a national team coach, I would also be pleased, because I would find an even more motivated player, and the national team would benefit sportingly from that change."

Catamo would be an ideal signing for Sunderland to solve head coach Regis Le Bris' problem position on the right wing, with the Black Cats also linked with Roma's Matias Soule throughout the summer transfer window.

However, the links to Catamo appear to be gaining more traction currently, and given his 30 goal contributions in 137 outings for Sporting, the pacey and direct, left-footed right-winger could be the perfect addition to the right flank of Sunderland's attack.