Aston Villa The interest in Jény Catamo now makes even more sense as the market for the Sporting CP winger continues to grow rapidly in Portugal.
the villas were one of the first clubs linked with the Mozambique international last summer, when Sporting's demand was around €25m-€30m (£21m-£26m). It looks like a completely different reality now.
according to to ballComo has become the club trying hardest for the 25-year-old.
The Italian side had a €25m (£21m) bid already rejected by Sporting and have since returned with improved numbers, with talks now entering what the newspaper describes as the unpredictable phase.
And the state of sporting has clearly changed.
Sporting is demanding more now
In recent months, Portuguese reports repeatedly suggested that Catamo could be leaving. Somewhere between €20m-€30m (£17m-£26m).
Now A Bola says Sporting wants a fee close to the winger's €60m (£51m) release clause.
The reason is simple: the value of Catamo has exploded.
His numbers have improved every season. In 2023/24, he scored six goals and five assists. The following year he scored seven goals and three assists. This season has been his strongest to date, with eight goals and four assists in 47 games.
His Champions League performance took things even further. One Bola particularly highlights is Sporting's 2-1 win over PSG, where Luis Suarez scored twice but Catamo was seen internally as one of the biggest difference-makers on the pitch.
Com completely changed the situation
Cesc Fàbregas' side are now pressing forward aggressively and their financial situation explains why. Como finished a surprising fourth in Serie A and qualified directly for the Champions League, earning an expected €35m-€50m (£30m-£43m) raise.
The club is also backed by the Hartono family, whose wealth is estimated at around €35bn (£30bn). Thierry Henry is also part of the wider project.
So while Como may not carry the historical weight of Italy's biggest clubs, they now have serious financial muscle behind them.
Adding to that context, Sporting own 100% of the winger's rights after resolving a long-running ownership situation last summer. His new contract runs until 2029And their Champions League campaign has dramatically strengthened Sporting's leverage.
So Villa are now turning their attention to one of Sporting's biggest assets and a transfer battle that is becoming increasingly expensive.
