‘Promise To Return With Another Offer’ – Sunderland Back In Hunt For Attacker | OneFootball

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Sunderland are set to return with another offer for Sporting Lisbon star Geny Catamo despite the Portuguese outfit having ‘immediately rejected’ their opening bid.

Last summer, Aston Villa were eager to lure the Mozambican international to the Premier League, but he ultimately remained in Portugal.

Last month, the prospect of Catamo heading to England resurfaced when Liverpool entered the equation, fresh off missing out on Yan Diomande.

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However, it was suggested that Sporting Lisbon would entertain no approach for the winger and that the €60m release clause represented the sole avenue towards taking him away from the Portuguese side.

Liverpool’s interest subsequently cooled as they shifted their focus towards Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye as their preferred wing additions, with the Reds actively working to secure a double raid on the Paris Saint-Germain pair.

But Regis Le Bris’ side earmarked Catamo as a player they wanted and last week, initiated discussions with the intention of finding a way through for the winger.

Keen to accelerate matters, the Black Cats ‘submitted a proposal’ in the hope of prising the Mozambique international away from Sporting Lisbon.

But according to Portuguese sports daily Record, Sunderland’s €40m offer was ‘immediately rejected’ by Sporting Lisbon, who have held their ground over their desire to keep Catamo.

Sunderland though ‘promise to return with another offer’ for the wide-man, appearing to be convinced that he would be a real game changer at the Stadium of Light.

What level that offer might be is unclear, but if Sporting Lisbon stick to the €60m release clause demand, Sunderland would have to add a further €20m on top of their €40m bid and that may well be unrealistic.

Catamo remains a prominent member of the Sporting Lisbon set-up, having started their opening league fixture against Estrela da Amadora and marked the occasion by supplying an assist.

Sunderland also have needs elsewhere in the squad that will require a financial commitment.

They have seen their efforts to land Daynn Methalie frustrated recently, with Toulouse turning down a bid that would have constituted a club-record sale for them and came in at around €33m.