Former Hibs player could face David Gray's side this summer as transfer to Euro heavyweight 'on the verge'
The former Hibs player is at Sunderland but could be on the move this transfer window.
A former Hibs player could be on a collision course to face the Easter Road side this summer as he nears an exit from Sunderland
Eliezer Mayenda joined the Premiership side alongside Nectar Triantis in January 2024. While Triantis’ loan deal ended up turning into an 18-month stay, Mayenda headed back to the Stadium of Light with only a few appearances after an underwhelming Easter Road spell, but his career soon took off. He was key to Sunderland earning Premier League promotion and played his part last term when European football was unlocked.
The attacker signed a new Stadium of Light contract until 2030 last summer but has fallen behind Wilson Isidor in the forward line. Now Marca transfer journalist Matteo Moretto claims a move to Portuguese side Porto is in the offing. That would set up a possible clash with Hibs for Mayenda with David Gray’s side due to face the European heavyweight as part of a mini-training camp in Portugal next month.
Who will Eliezer Mayenda sign for this summer?
Moretto states: “Eliezer Mayenda is close to joining Porto. Negotiations between the Portuguese club and Sunderland are on the verge of being finalised.”
It might cost them a sizeable fee for the ex Hibs player as L’Équipe claim that Ligue 1 side Rennes are also on the case for Mayenda. Talks are claimed to have taken place between them and the Premier League side but there’s a price tag of €25m (£21.5m) needing paid if he is to leave the club.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said of Mayenda’s Sunderland status before the end of last season: "We had this conversation earlier this season I think, we have two strikers and a half if we say that Eli can also play as a ten, as a winger. Sometimes he plays in different positions [so he is not only a striker].
What is Eliezer Mayenda’s role at Sunderland?
"But the game time is probably more for two [strikers] in this situation. So Brian Brobbey is doing well at the minute, he's dominant in his position and the second striker in the good spot at the minute is Wilson. They had the opportunity, both Eli and Wilson, to have some minutes. The best one at the minute, because it's always a question of dynamic and it's evolutive, was Wilson and Eli has to wait.
"It doesn't mean that I don't trust Eli or that I don't think that he's a good player but this is the momentum and you have to manage it. It's always hard because for a player, starting is key. It drives their life. If I'm a starter, it's really positive. If I'm on the bench, I'm not happy. It's always the case for a footballer but when you play in the Premier League, in a strong squad like ours today, you have to accept the competition. Otherwise, you can't sustain competitive life in this world. So it's part of the process, part of their learning curve. We support them and they have to be patient."