Arsene Wenger Fuels Transfer Talk After Praising £35m Man Utd Target

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, Arsene Wenger has fuelled talk he could move for Jackson Martinez….

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has fuelled speculation that he’ll make a summer move for Manchester United target Jackson Martinez after heaping praise on the Colombian striker, according to reports today.

Martinez moved to FC Porto in 2012 and has been one of the most prolific strikers in Europe over the past two-and-a-half years, scoring an incredible 85 goals in just 120 appearances.

The Colombian international was strongly linked with a switch to the Premier League last summer but a move failed to materialise and he stayed at Porto where he’s scored 25 goals in 29 appearances so far this campaign.

With the 28-year-old in red-hot form in front of goal, he’s once again been linked with a move to England and reports earlier this month suggested that Arsenal and Manchester United are among the clubs keen on luring him away from Portugal this summer.

Arsene Wenger has now fuelled that speculation after heaping praise on Martinez, with the Gunners boss claiming that the striker will leave Porto in the near future and suggesting that he has what it takes to cope in the Premier League.

Wenger is quoted by the Daily Mail as telling reporters in France:

‘[He has] top physical strengths,’ Wenger said about Martinez. ‘Hugely efficient, he is the kind of player who can make room for himself in the box.

‘He could play in the Premier League because he has the body to make the difference. He uses it in a very intelligent way. Very short back lift and he’s a very good finisher.’

‘He’s on the list of many clubs, you know that. He will be the next big transfer who will give a big smile to Pinto da Costa [Porto’s owner].’

Porto have gained a reputation for cashing-in on their top talent over the years with the likes of Ricardo Carvalho, Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez just three examples of players who’ve been sold for big money and it looks as though Martinez could be the next to go.

The striker claimed just last week that he was ready to take the ‘next step’ in his career this summer but with a reported asking price of £35m, any potential buyers are going to have to have deep pockets.

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With Lukas Podolski expected to leave the Emirates on a permanent transfer this summer and Man Utd unlikely to make Radamel Falcao’s loan move permanent, both Wenger and Louis van Gaal could be on the look out for another forward and Martinez would be an excellent signing for either club.

However, we’ll have to wait and see whether either manager makes their interest formal at the end of the season.