Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of former Sporting Lisbon winger, Gelson Martins. It is to our knowledge that the player has already revoked his contract with the Portuguese outfit after a reported incident surrounding the club’s supporters.
A horde of 50 masked men had streamed into the training facilities and went on to assault the players for their failure to earn a spot in next season’s Champions League. This was followed by a number of the club’s players terminating their contracts with the club on fairgrounds.
Now Martins is available on a free transfer but Arsenal, one of the primary clubs chasing him, are faced a with a number of competitors from different corners of Europe. Speaking with Italian outlet, Tutto Mercato, Martins’ agent, Ulisses Santos said, “As his agent, my priority is his tranquillity and his focus on the pitch. There are many rumours about his future. I want to inform you that his next team will not be Benfica.”
Gelson Martins might just have cost the Gunners or any interested side in excess of £50m in the present market conditions. Getting the talented wide man for practically nothing definitely spices up the transfer chase.
It can be assumed that Lisbon had requested Martins in good faith not to join their direct rivals if he were to leave. Plus, the offers from Premier League and La Liga outfits are even more lucrative than what Benfica might be able to offer.
Martins certainly will be a massive loss for Lisbon in the coming season and a valuable addition to whichever side he opts to sign for. The 23-year-old had scored on 13 occasions last term and set up another 13 assists in 52 appearances for Sporting in all competitions.
Blessed with outstanding pace under his boots and a bag of skills to go with it, Martins could be the missing piece Arsenal have been desperately searching for since the departure of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The North London side needs at least one out-and-out winger for the upcoming season if they are to challenge for major honours.
Martins will be able to stretch the floor on the offensive end to give creative heads like Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan something to aim at. The 23-year-old can be fielded on either flank to help deliver balls into the box for Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to pounce upon.
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Other than securing the services of key players, Unai Emery should definitely go all in for the Portuguese international.
