Arsenal are in the running to sign Colombian forward Jackson Martinez after it was confirmed that the player has talks scheduled to take place with the club. The Daily Star reports that the agent of the 27 year old has confirmed discussions will take place with The Gunners.
The paper quotes agent Peppino Tirri telling Italian publication Corriere Giallorosso that:
“I am waiting for Jackson Martinez’s manager, Henrique Pompeo, to arrive in Italy tonight for a series of transfer meetings we’ll have together.
We’ve got meetings set up with numerous European clubs, as he is of interest to Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Valencia, but also important Italian sides.”
Arsenal are widely rumoured to be in the market for a forward having gone through most of last season with only Olivier Giroud as an established striker. Injuries to the likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also meant that North London club were short of pace in their attack, giving less space to creative players such as Mesut Ozil.
Martinez would add some much needed pace to Arsenal’s front line as well as providing a definite goal scoring threat. Since joining Porto in 2012, Martinez has netted 60 times in 91 appearances in all competitions.
Although Arsenal face a battle to secure the services of the Colombian front man from Manchester United and a host of other top clubs it seems that Martinez may prefer a move to The Emirates. The Daily Star quotes him as saying:
“I cheered for Arsenal when I was a kid – I love their style of play.
It’s flowing and open with a lot of first touch passes. It would be suitable for a player like me. If I get a chance to play for a high level club like Arsenal I wouldn’t hesitate to accept it.”
Although a vital part of Porto’s team it appears that the club are willing to allow him to leave. The same source reports that a fee of between £25 and £30 million would be enough to convince the Portuguese club to sell.
happisoul
Jun 11, 2014 at 7:57 pm
Jackson Martinez is the real deal i have been waiting to hear. He is very powerful, very skillful and trickery, brilliant in the air and excellent at shots and penalties, and very quick (You lots need to see his video), more so, he is an Arsenal fan. I would be d happiest if this dude becomes an Arsenal player next season.
Mr Wenger, please…sign him up!
Goonerbeall
Jun 12, 2014 at 2:34 pm
Happisoul, calm down coz nothing is certain when we are still in the hands of that Wenger. While our competitors are busy building squads for 2014-2015 our Wenger is pontificating at WC while his squad of misfits is falling further behind. He has lost all his skills of finding good players and now our squad is full of spineless individuals who are “one trick ponies”. I hear we are to get rid of Cazorla and we are not interested in Cesc Fabregasa which is utter madness.