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Arsenal Dealt Blow In Pursuit Of €43m Striker

By on January 23, 2014

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.

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But the search will now have to continue, let’s hope Arsene has something up his sleeve.