Arsenal Finally Open Talks Over Deal For €44m Chelsea Target

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, Arsenal step up their interest in Jackson Martinez.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has finally opened talks over a potential deal for €44m-rated Chelsea target Jackson Martinez, according to reports.

The Colombian hitman has been superb for Porto since joining the club two years ago from Mexican outfit Jaguares de Chiapas, with his 60 goals in 91 appearances making him one of the most deadly strikers in Europe.

Understandably his form in front of goal has caught the eye of some top clubs in the Premier League with Arsenal and Chelsea among the clubs to be linked with a move for the 27-year-old in recent weeks.

Arsene Wenger is on the look out for a top class front-man this summer to offer competition for Olivier Giroud next season after being heavily reliant on the Frenchman last year, and Martinez would certainly add some much-needed fire-power to the north Londoners squad.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho is also looking to revamp his forward options after making it perfectly clear last season he wasn’t happy with his current crop, claiming on more than one occasion he didn’t have any ‘real strikers’ at his disposal, and Martinez would be an upgrade on the likes of Fernando Torres.

However, it looks like the Gunners have put themselves in the driving seat for the Colombian’s signature with the Metro claiming that Arsenal have now opened formal talks with Porto over a deal to bring the striker to the Emirates this summer.

The newspaper suggests that Martinez has already made it clear to the Portuguese club that he wants to join Arsenal after refusing to sign a new contract at the club and has hired a new agent to try and help secure the move.

The report also states that Wenger has asked if Porto are willing to sell the striker for less than his €44m (£35m) buy-out clause, with the frugal Frenchman supposedly ready to open the bidding at nearer €25m (£20m).

Porto are notoriously difficult to deal with so it’s highly unlikely they will agree to sell one of their star men for almost half his buy-out fee, so Wenger is going to have to come up with a better offer to tempt the Portuguese giants into a sale.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news

It remains to be seen how Chelsea will react to Arsenal stepping up their interest, but with the West Londoners seemingly concentrating their efforts on trying to land Diego Costa, it looks like they may be prepared to let their rivals have a free run at Martinez.

Whether Wenger will be willing to part with the kind of money it’s going to take to sign the striker is another question, but at least it looks like he’s making moves in the market and not just playing beach football in Brazil….