Arsenal & Man Utd Given Go-Ahead To Sign €40m Hitman

The January transfer window is now closed but that won’t stop the newspapers from speculating ahead of the summer so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Jackson Martinez is set to leave Porto this summer…..

Arsenal and Manchester United have been given the go-ahead to sign Jackson Martinez this summer after FC Porto confirmed the striker will leave at the end of the season, according to reports.

Martinez joined Porto in 2012 and has been one of the most prolific strikers in European football over the past two-and-a-half years, scoring an incredible 85 goals in just 120 games.

The Colombian international was strongly linked with a move away from the Estádio do Dragão last summer but he was persuaded to stay for one more season and he’s continued to impress with the 28-year-old netting 25 goals in his 29 appearances so far this campaign.

His impressive form has led to speculation that Arsenal and Manchester United are ready to offer Martinez a new challenge in the Premier League this summer and the duo have now been given the all-clear to make a move after Porto president Pinto da Costa confirmed they will cash-in on the striker as long as their valuation is met.

‘Jackson almost left last summer but we agreed he’d stay one more year,’

‘If somebody pays [his value] he will go.’ da Costa is quoted as saying by the Express

So it looks like Porto are ready to sell and although da Costa doesn’t reveal what the players asking price will be, it’s believed that the Portuguese giants would be willing to do business at around €40m (£30m).

Reports just last week suggested that Arsenal were leading the chase as Martinez is supposedly ready to snub all offers to move to the Emirates after Arsene Wenger heaped praise on the Colombian, saying he has all the attributes needed to be a success in England.

“He could play in the Premier League, Jackson Martinez, because he has the body to make the difference.

“He uses in a very intelligent way his body, very short backlift and is a very good finisher.” Wenger is quoted as saying by the Express.

Arsenal already have a wealth of attacking talent available but with Lukas Podolski expected to leave the club on a permanent basis this summer, perhaps Wenger has identified Martinez as a potential replacement and he’d certainly offer a real threat to Olivier Giroud’s starting place if he did move to North London.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

However, I wouldn’t discount Manchester United just yet as Louis van Gaal is expected to be on the look-out for another striker this summer if he doesn’t make Radamel Falcao’s loan move permanent and Martinez would be a realistic target.