Sunderland Striker Eliezer Mayenda has been finding himself at the center of transfer speculation. However, the latest claims seem to raise more questions than answers.
Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio Real Betis are now reported to have joined Porto and Stade Rennais in the race for the Sunderland forward. The La Liga side are said to be accelerating contacts in an attempt to beat off the competition.
They also claim that Betis were already tracking the striker before increasing their interest.
Di Marzio goes further than previous reports to insist that Porto are "working hard" for Mayenda and this has been confirmed by multiple sources.
However, in the last 24 hours, The three main Portuguese newspapers have independently rejected the claims. That Porto is following Mayenda. The outlets insist he is not part of Porto's attacking shortlist. Furthermore, no talks have been initiated with Sunderland.
This makes one of the three clubs named by Di Marzio already refuted by several sources in the country concerned.
spain remains calm
The Betis angle also arrives without any significant support from Spain. Di Marzio claims the La Liga side have intensified contact after previously pursuing the Sunderland player.
However, there have been little to no reports from the Spanish media to suggest that the club is actively working on a deal.
It is different from Stade Rennais. Last month, reports claimed Mayenda had expressed interest in "Many ambitious European clubs". Of these, Rennes was the only party identified by name.
Ligue 1 club has Since then it has been continuously appearing in reports. This makes them a running thread throughout speculation.
Pressure on Rennes?
From Sunderland's perspective, the latest update does nothing to strengthen the overall transfer picture.
Instead, it expands the list of reported suitors despite Porto's claims having already been rejected twice and the Betis story in Spain lacking confirmation.
This naturally raises the possibility that the extended list of interested clubs is designed to increase pressure on Rennes, who remains the only club consistently linked with Mayanda in multiple reports.
For now, the French side remain the only destination with sustained support, while there is still little evidence behind the claims of Porto and Betis.
