Sunderland are reportedly prepared to break their current transfer record to sign Geny Catamo from Sporting CP.
According to the latest reports, Sunderland are prepared to break their current club transfer record to bring Sporting CP right-winger Geny Catamo to the Stadium of Light before the summer window closes.
The Black Cats have been linked with the 25-year-old winger, who has two assists in two for Sporting at the start of their 2026/27 Liga Portugal campaign, for several weeks recently in the window.
The latest reports regarding Sunderland's pursuit of Sporting star Catamo indicate that Sunderland are making positive progress on a club-player agreement with the Mozambique international, who is said to be open to the move, and that work permit options have been explored.
Additionally, Portuguese media outlet Abola has suggested that the exciting talent could be poised to earn five times his current Sporting salary as a result of joining the Stadium of Light project.
Amid the bombshell news regarding other transfer target Dayann Methalie's failed Sunderland medical, the Black Cats recruitment team continues to work on the Catamo move in the meantime, with the Premier League season days away from kick-off.
The latest noise on Catamo would suggest that Sunderland are so keen to bring the winger to Wearside this summer that the Black Cats are prepared to smash their transfer record to secure his signature.
Geny Catamo (left) in action for Sporting CP (Credit: REUTERS/Rodrigo Antunes)Sunderland Could Break Transfer Record To Sign Geny Catamo
Catamo has a £51m release clause inserted within his Sporting contract, but earlier reports, when the news emerged, suggested that Sunderland would aim to negotiate that substantial fee down.
However, that still stands to become a potential new club-record deal, and surpass last summer's £30m deal to sign Senegalese central midfielder Habib Diarra from Strasbourg.
According to Portuguese outlet Abola, Sunderland are set to return with an improved offer for Catamo, which raises the fixed fee to a minimum of €35m/£29.9m with achievable bonuses.
Meanwhile, Portuguese publication Ojogo indicate that the Black Cats have raised their offer for the winger to €33m/£28.2m + €7m/£5.97m.
The exact fee regarding the latest Sunderland offer remains to be seen, but it stands to reason that Sunderland would eclipse the £30m deal for Diarra last year, which saw the Stadium of Light hierarchy shell out a £27m fee up-front with £3m in future add-ons.
Habib Diarra in pre-season action for Sunderland (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)Given that Catamo could become the most expensive signing in Sunderland's 147-year history, it is a substantial indication as to the qualities he possesses and his potential for future development as the pacey winger enters the prime years of his career.
Although it is a substantial fee, Regis Le Bris is in desperate need of a goal-threatening right-winger, and Catamo could be the key to help unlock the Black Cats' attacking potential in the upcoming campaign.
