Aston Villa are still firmly in the hunt for Sporting CP winger Geny Catamo ahead of the 2026/27 season, but the price of doing business has gone up. After seeing a €20 million (£17m) bid rejected last summer, Villa now face a steeper €30 million (£26m) asking price following Catamo's breakout campaign in Lisbon.

The 25-year-old Mozambique international has been one of Portuguese football's most reliable wide attackers this term, bagging eight goals and four assists in 41 appearances—starting 33 of them. Playing primarily off the right flank, Catamo has become a constant threat, forcing opponents to double-team him. Yet he's only grown more influential. His pace, diagonal runs, and defensive work rate make him a well-rounded option for any side looking to add attacking firepower.

Still, there are question marks. Catamo's numbers in European competition have been quieter compared to his domestic form, and the leap from a high-pressing Portuguese system to the physical grind of the Premier League is never a guarantee. For a club like Aston Villa, who have struggled to replace the explosive play they once had with Moussa Diaby, those are risks worth weighing. Leon Bailey hasn't consistently filled that gap, leaving manager Unai Emery without a go-to left-footed threat.

Sporting have moved to protect their asset, handing Catamo a new deal through 2029 that nearly doubles his salary to €700,000 per year. That gives the Portuguese club plenty of leverage this summer. Meanwhile, the competition is heating up: Everton, Fulham, and Lyon have joined the race alongside Villa, making this one of the busiest transfer battles for a winger this window. Fiorentina and Napoli also kept tabs on him earlier in the season, proving interest has spiked since January.

For Villa, the €30 million price tag may seem steep, but in a market where dynamic wingers are hard to come by, Catamo's breakout season could be exactly what Emery needs to reignite his attack.