Transfer News: Contract Extension Talks For £35m Striker Target Break Down

As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, contract talks for Jackson Martinez have broken down.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all been alerted to the news that contract extension talks between £35m-rated striker target Jackson Martinez and Porto have broken down, according to reports.

Martinez has continued his excellent form in front of goal since joining Porto from Mexican side Chiapas two years ago after scoring 60 goals in 91 appearances for the Portuguese giants.

His impressive displays have led to interest from a whole host of European clubs and speculation in recent weeks has suggested that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are all keeping tabs on the strikers situation.

The Premier League quartet will be interested to learn that the Express are reporting that contract talks over an extension have stalled after Porto demanded to increase his current £35m buy-out clause to £70m.

The newspaper states that Martinez isn’t prepared to sign-off the new deal without significant financial compensation as the increased buy-out fee would all-but rule out his chance of joining a top European side over the course of the five-year contract.

The Colombian international is now 27, so there’s a chance that Porto may decide it’s best to cash-in now and use the money to rebuild their squad if a new contract can not be agreed over the coming weeks.

The striker agent Peppino Tirri revealed earlier this month that there is serious interest in his client and named Arsenal and Manchester United as two clubs potential destinations, while he also claimed that Porto would be willing to sell at around £25m-£30m.

“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,”

“It’s true, he will fly in tonight because we have some encounters to evaluate and find the right proposal for Jackson Martinez.

“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.

“Yes, Roma are a concrete possibility, but they aren’t the only Serie A club interested in Martinez. I repeat, we have many meetings and a lot to do over the next few days.

“We believe Porto will happily do with a sum between £25m and £30m.” Tirri is quoted as saying by the Daily Star.

It remains to be seen whether any of the interested English clubs will formalise their interest with a concrete bid, but it’s going to be interesting to see where Martinez is playing his football next season.

Of the four Premier League clubs linked, Arsenal are arguably the one’s who need a striker the most and Martinez would certainly add a new dimension to the Gunners attack if Arsene Wenger decided to bring him to the Emirates this summer.

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Liverpool and Man Utd already have excellent options in attack, while Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of signing Spanish hitman Diego Costa so it’s unlikely Jose Mourinho will be in the market for another expensive striker this summer, so north London would appear to be the most likely destination if Martinez did end up in England this summer.