Why Geny Catamo To Sunderland Would Be Ideal Signing To Solve Régis Le Bris Problem - comment

As the summer transfer window rages on, Sunderland have reportedly shortlisted a new potential target for the right-wing position. 

According to local reporter James Copley of the Sunderland Echo on X, Sunderland are interested in signing Sporting CP winger Geny Catamo ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 Premier League and Europa League campaigns. 

Talks are said to be ongoing between the Black Cats and Sporting regarding a potential summer move, however the main stumbling block to the move would be the €60m/£51m release clause in Catamo’s contract with the Portuguese giants. 

Thankfully, given that would constitute a monumental financial outlay from Sunderland and become the club’s new record signing by around £20m, the report adds that the deal could be feasibly negotiated down below the £51m release clause mark. 

Mozambique international Catamo graduated from the Sporting CP B team ahead of the 2021/22 season, and after a handful of loan spells, has made a significant impact on their first-team proceedings over recent seasons. 

The Black Cats’ interest in Catamo comes at the same time as Sunderland’s links with Roma winger Matias Soule have seemingly gone quiet, and now the Stadium of Light transfer team could make the Sporting star their marquee addition on the right flank of attack. 

Given the profile of player Catamo is and the attacking abilities he possesses, Sunderland could be poised for an extremely exciting addition, and one that is necessary for the needs of Regis Le Bris’ squad heading into this season. 

In terms of the profile of player that Catamo is, on paper, he is exactly the type of winger that Sunderland boss Le Bris is crying out for heading into the upcoming campaign, being a left-footed right-winger with an eye for goals and chance creation. 

Over the course of last season, several Sunderland players tried and failed to nail down a consistent starting role at right-wing under Le Bris, which has led the Black Cats transfer team to eye a big-money recruit in this role in the window. 

Clearly, given he has scored 21 goals and notched nine assists in his 137 appearances for Sporting over the last three seasons, Catamo could be the answer for Sunderland’s problem position.

Last season, Catamo registered an expected assist rate of 3.98 and created six big chances for his teammates, but managed just two assists in the Portuguese top flight last term, highlighting that among more prolific goalscorers akin Black Cats bruiser Brian Brobbey, his numbers would improve as the 25-year-old enters the prime stages of his career. 

Another exciting attribute to Catamo is his raw athleticism and pace, which would make the winger a frightening prospect for Premier League and Europa League defences to contend with next season, allowing for Sunderland to be effective on transitions and to stretch defences in-behind. 

Despite being a player with great attacking flair, the 33-time-capped Mozambique international is no stranger to the defensive side of the game that Le Bris demands from his players, with Catamo making 93 recoveries for Sporting in Liga Portugal. 

Catamo has also netted in the Champions League in each of the last two seasons, showing that he has the ability to impact on the elite European stage ahead of Sunderland’s voyage into the Europa League next term. 

Overall, given his profile, abilities and necessity to the current squads needs of Sunderland, Sporting winger Catamo would be an ideal signing for the Black Cats to solve the glaring right-wing problem position for Le Bris.

However, this must be caveated by the level of fee Sunderland would be shelling out for the Sporting winger’s signature this summer, with recent reports from journalist Flávio Costa indicating that the Stadium of Light transfer team are preparing a new €35m offer for Catamo after their recent €30m ploy was rejected.