Newcastle United’s recruitment team is already exploring potential January opportunities after a summer in which the club focused solely on adding younger players with room to develop.
Sporting CP winger Geny Catamo is among the latest players attracting Newcastle’s attention.
According to TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey, the Magpies have an interest in the 25-year-old and stepped up their scouting in recent weeks ahead of the January transfer window.
“Newcastle United, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Brighton
are among the clubs to have checked on Catamo, while Aston Villa have also continued to monitor his situation,” Bailey reported.
Catamo has strengthened his case with an impressive beginning to the season, putting up two goals and three assists across his opening seven appearances.
Newcastle is not new to the Mozambique international’s situation. Bailey revealed that several interested clubs contacted Catamo’s camp earlier in the summer and have continued tracking his progress. That said, Sporting’s stance represents the biggest potential obstacle.
Sunderland made Catamo its leading target during the summer but could not convince the Portuguese club to negotiate. Sporting insisted that interested teams would have to pay the winger’s €60 million (£51 million) release clause in full, a figure Sunderland was unwilling to meet.
The Black Cats remain interested, while Newcastle, Brentford, Forest, Brighton and Villa now provide further Premier League competition. One factor potentially working in Newcastle’s and all other Premier League suitors’ favor is Catamo’s willingness to move to England.
“We understand Catamo is more than open to the possibility of moving to the Premier League, with the winger attracted by the prospect of testing himself in England,” Bailey reported.
There is no indication yet that Newcastle has submitted an offer or entered negotiations with Sporting, and whether Sporting will soften its €60 million stance in January could ultimately determine how serious the race becomes.
Would Catamo be worth pursuing at around £51 million, or should Newcastle look elsewhere if Sporting continues demanding the full release clause? Let us know in the comments.
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