Sporting extend Gelson deal, sign Coates

Sporting CP have tied highly rated winger Gelson Martins to a new five-and-a-half-year contract and exercised their option to purchase Sebastian Coates from Sunderland.

Gelson has reportedly attracted interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona in the last year after coming through Sporting’s ranks, having made his Primeira Liga debut in August 2015.

The 21-year-old’s ability on the ball and pace have made him an eye-catching proposition, with Fernando Santos handing him a senior international debut in October.

And he now looks set to either remain at Sporting for several more years or, should he move, bring in a sizeable fee, with the club revealing his new contract contains a €60 million release clause, €15m more than in his previous deal.

É um orgulho vestir esta camisola e uma honra renovar com o clube do meu coração Seguimos juntos pic.twitter.com/SzNRHND01K

— Gelson Martins (@GelsonMartins_) February 2, 2017

Sporting also confirmed, in conjunction with Sunderland, they have opted to make Coates’ loan move permanent – the Uruguayan also signing until July 2022 in a deal which sets his release clause at €45m.