Arsenal plan to poach Porto star Jackson Martinez
Arsene Wenger, 8/1 to lift the Premier League with Arsenal this season, has reportedly set his sights on Colombian superstar Jackson Martinez, as the Gunners look set to indulge in what would be an unprecedented transfer window for the club.
Prolific Porto poacher Martinez has netted 46 times in 60 league appearances for the Portuguese giants, and bagged a brilliant brace in Colombia’s 4-1 demolition job of Japan in the World Cup group stage.
Following the Coffee Growers’ tremendous tournament, the South American is in-demand alongside compatriots James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado.
Arsenal, Liverpool and even Manchester United have been linked with a summer swoop for the frontman, with Wenger targeting Martinez to compete with Olivier Giroud, after losing Nicklas Bendtner on a free transfer.
With an abundance of pace, and a powerful physique, the Colombian would provide Arsenal with an alternative, more direct approach. The thought of the current Porto player, and expected in-coming Alexis Sanchez, combining up front, with record signing Mesut Ozil in support, would terrify most Premier League defences.
The move would constitute a sign of continued change in Wenger’s transfer policy, with fans having implored the Frenchman to invest heavily for many seasons. Ozil arrived from Real Madrid last summer for £42.4M, and the Gunners appear ready to go all-out and splash the cash again, with moves for Sanchez and Debuchy almost near completion.
Liverpool could reportedly still throw a spanner in the works, though, with Brendan Rodgers’ Reds likely to embark on a spending spree upon the finalisation of Luis Suarez’s much-anticipated switch to Barcelona.
Having seemingly missed out on a swap deal for sensational Sanchez, with the Chilean apparently preferring a move to the Emirates, Rodgers will not want to see another superstar head to north London at Liverpool’s expense.
Despite being linked with a string of exciting attackers to replace Suarez, including youngsters Divock Origi and Lazar Markovic, the Merseyside club, 10/1 to win the Premier League this coming season, need a proven star to take over the mantle.
Whilst controversial Suarez will be an irreplaceable loss, the addition of experienced Martinez alongside Daniel Sturridge would provide guaranteed goals and explosive pace on the counter-attack.
This would allow Liverpool to continue in the same vein of last season, focusing on the fast, attacking football that almost secured them the Premier League title, whilst also developing talented youngsters that may one day fill Suarez’s shoes.
