- Fabrizio Romano posts quotes confirming 22-year-old star has agreed to join Arsenal
- [Photos] 28-year-old star poses in Arsenal shirt after Gunners confirm new signing
- Arsenal on verge of signing 22-year-old star after Edu negotiates deal
- Arsenal team news update: Duo could miss FA Cup clash with Southampton
- Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Newcastle: Tierney and Partey start
- [Image] Key trio return, no Xhaka or Lacazette: My Arsenal line-up vs Newcastle
- Arsenal boss confirms fresh injury blow + Tierney update
- Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Tierney out, Partey on the bench
- [Image] Key duo return, no Xhaka or Holding: My Arsenal line-up vs Palace
- Transfer talks underway as Arsenal plot swoop to sign exciting winger
Arsenal Dealt Blow In Pursuit Of €43m Striker
Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Jackson Martinez with the striker’s agent revealing he has already reached an agreement over a contract extension at Porto.
The Colombian hitman has been linked with a move to the Emirates in recent weeks with reports even suggesting that Arsene Wenger had made him his ‘top transfer target’ and was mulling over triggering the strikers €43m (£35m) buy-out clause before the end of the month.
A move looked to be on the cards at one point when Martinez himself talked-up a switch after revealing he was an Arsenal fan as a kid and he would jump at the chance to move to north London:
“I cheered for Arsenal when I was a kid – I love their style of play.
“It’s flowing and open with a lot of first touch passes. It would be suitable for a player like me.
“If I get a chance to play for a high level club like Arsenal I wouldn’t hesitate to accept it.” [source: Daily Star]
However, it looks like we may have missed our chance with the player’s agent, Luis Manuel Manso, revealing that the 27-year-old has now agreed to extend his stay at Porto.
“It is okay, I will travel to Porto next week to discuss the renewal. There is already an agreement to renew,” Manso said. [source: Daily Star]
Martinez’s current deal doesn’t expire until 2016, so it’s clear Porto are trying to tie him down to fresh terms that will probably see the release clause increased or removed entirely, which could end our hopes of signing him.
It’s a pity as he would have been a superb addition. He’s scored 49 times in just 64 games for the Portuguese champions so would certainly have given us a real goal-threat up front.
ALSO READ: Arsenal make bid for attacking midfielder
But the search will now have to continue, let’s hope Arsene has something up his sleeve.