Liverpool are being linked with a move for Sporting CP winger Gelson Martins next summer. According to recent reports, the Reds target has a €60m release clause which can only be activated until the 2018 FIFA World Cup which kicks off in June later this year. After that, any of his potential suitors will have to agree to a fee with Sporting CP directly, with the club set to demand a much bigger price for their prized asset.
It is believed that Liverpool are among a whole host of clubs, which includes Barcelona and Bayern Munich, monitoring his situation in Portugal and could be tempted to make an offer in the near future.
Some sources are also claiming that there is an added clause in Martins’ contract which states that if Sporting CP offers the player €1.5m, then the Portuguese giants can increase the release clause to €100m.
However, it wouldn’t make much difference now, since his release clause is set to expire during the World Cup anyway. Hence, it could turn out to be a shrewd piece of business for the Reds if they can acquire Martins’ signature for €60m as his price is only going to increase next summer.
The Reds are currently sitting in 3rd place in the Premier League standings after securing a comfortable 2-0 victory away at Southampton in their last league outing. The Anfield-based club find themselves just above Chelsea, who are in fourth place with a point separating the two teams at the moment.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s side are a staggering 18 points behind league leaders Manchester City. The addition of the Portuguese talent will undoubtedly bolster Jurgen Klopp’s attacking options going forward as they try to bridge the gap between themselves and the Manchester clubs in the coming years.
The Portuguese winger has been in sensational form for Sporting CP this season, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists in 36 matches across all competitions. His talents will improve Liverpool’s squad depth if they are successful in landing him next summer and Martins could be an ideal asset at Merseyside due to his versatility.
He primarily operates on the right flank but the Portuguese can also play in the number 10 position which makes him a perfect cover for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of the Sporting CP ace and whether he ends up making a move to the Premier League in the near future.
