Arsenal eyeing 22-year-old international attacker with £52m release clause

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal are said to be “closely watching” Sporting Lisbon winger Geny Catamo.

According to Football Transfers, the Gunners are one of several clubs eyeing the 22-year-old attacking talent.

As well as Arsenal, the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are apparently in pursuit of the Mozambique international.

In good news for the Gunners and their suitors, the report claims that Catamo could leave his current club as early as the January transfer window.

Arsenal are fairly well stocked in attack at present, but there’s always scope to look at reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window.

Catamo joined Sporting back in 2019 after signing from Portuguese lower-league outfit Amora, where he was playing for the B team for three years.

He has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, with one goal and two assists for the Lions in their first eight games.

The reported Arsenal target’s side are joint top of the league with Benfica and Porto with a game in hand, and also remain unbeaten in the division.

‘Great dribbling skills’

In addition, Catamo is represented by Promoesport, with FT claiming the Gunners have a good relationship with the agency after amicable negotiations over Carlos Soler back in 2021.

According to the report, the reported Gunners target ‘possesses great dribbling skills’. He has also helped Mozambique qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

As per Transfermarkt, Catamo is a fairly versatile player. He plays on the wings for Sporting, but for Mozambique, he also has played up front and even in central midfield.

In terms of how much he could cost Arsenal, the Birmingham Mail recently spoke of a report in A Bola claiming Catamo has a €60million (£52million) release clause.

The report also claimed that Sporting don’t own 100 per cent of the player’s rights. Rather, they own 25 per cent, with the remaining 75 per cent owned by Amora.

Sporting apparently want to try and negotiate with the Setubal-based team but they will likely demand in excess of €600,000.

The club is also reportedly keen to extend the winger’s contract for at least another year, until 2027. However, the release clause would remain the same.

A big sum for a relatively unproven player – TBR View

While Catamo looks like an exciting prospect, the price tag here is very much one of the key points.

Arsenal surely wouldn’t be looking to pay £52million for a player who’s only just coming to the fore in Portugal.

Considering the Gunners signed Gabriel Jesus – a Premier League-proven star – for £45million, a higher fee for a much less proven player seems illogical.

Obviously that’s just the reportedly release clause – if Arsenal could negotiate a (much) lower fee, then maybe there could be progress on that front.