Tottenham Track Sporting Winger as £51m Clause Draws Interest

Tottenham Hotspur are actively tracking Sporting CP winger Geny Catamo ahead of the January transfer window as the North London club considers ways to address an early-season scoring slump under manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Catamo has opened the European season with two goals and three assists in five appearances for Sporting. The 23-year-old Mozambique international also recorded eight goals and five assists across all competitions during the 2023–24 campaign, helping the Lisbon club win the Primeira Liga championship.

Tottenham began their Premier League season without scoring in four consecutive league matches. The run amounted to six hours, or 360 minutes, of top-flight football without a goal and included a 0-0 draw against Everton.

Sporting’s contract with Catamo contains a £51 million (€60 million) release clause. Sunderland held transfer discussions over the winger during the summer window but did not meet the full clause. Como 1907 carried out initial scouting checks, and clubs in the Saudi Pro League have continued to monitor him.

Tottenham committed approximately £300 million to restructuring the squad during the summer transfer period. The attacking additions included the permanent signing of Brazilian winger Savio from Manchester City, as well as loan deals for Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush and Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk.

Catamo joined Sporting’s youth setup in 2019 after beginning his development at Maputo club Black Bulls and moving to Portuguese football with Amora in 2018. He later gained first-team experience through top-flight loan spells with Vitória de Guimarães and Marítimo.

Availability and selection have affected Tottenham’s front line. Mudryk is expected to remain out until October after suffering an ankle injury early in his spell, while Brazilian forward Richarlison was left out of De Zerbi’s matchday squad against Everton. Savio and Marmoush both started that match but could not end the scoring drought.

Catamo established himself in Sporting’s main squad last season as a versatile right-sided attacker. His campaign included a two-goal performance against cross-city rivals Benfica in April 2024. For Mozambique, he featured at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Former Tottenham midfielder and Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp spoke after the Everton draw. “After spending £300million, I didn’t think there would be a problem scoring goals,” Redknapp said. “I thought that they might struggle to win games, a few teething problems, but I thought with the players they’ve got in midfield… surely they have goals in this team. To not score in the Premier League in six hours of football is absolutely diabolical, whatever way you look at it.”

Sporting head coach Rui Borges has reaffirmed the club’s confidence in Catamo despite the transfer attention. “Geny is happy at Sporting, he has played well, clearly demonstrating his commitment and happiness playing for Sporting,” Borges said. “The interest from him is natural, he is a great player. He has always known the confidence he has from his coach and the technical team. Therefore, I am very happy with the response he has given daily and in matches.”

Because Marmoush and Mudryk are at Tottenham on temporary loan arrangements rather than permanent transfers, the club retains financial and roster flexibility to make permanent additions to its attack during the upcoming winter transfer window.