Sporting Lisbon’s ongoing player crisis could be a massive opportunity for Arsenal to pry away Gelson Martins for absolutely nothing, this summer. The winger has joined hands with his teammates, William Carvalho and Bruno Fernandes to protest against the club’s hierarchy by threatening to terminate their present contracts.
The players of the Portuguese outfit were assaulted by 50 masked fans at the training facilities for their failure to earn a spot in next season’s Champions League. This came after the club president, Bruno de Carvalho’s decision to threaten suspension on some of the club’s players for losing to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League fixture this past campaign.
The Leões goalkeeper, Rui Patricio has already ended his formal terms with the Portuguese outfit and is close to making a permanent switch to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The shot-stopper agreed to overturn his decision if de Carvalho was dealt with for his actions but nothing has come out of the club’s ranks just yet.
Gelson Martins might just have cost the Gunners north of £50m if were not for the rising unsettlement issues between the player and his parent club. Sporting are expected to lose over £100m worth of talent for nothing this summer if they do not resolve the issue fast.
Martin certainly will a massive loss but will also be warmly welcomed at the Emirates by both the fans and the new boss, Unai Emery. The 23-year-old struck the back of the net 13 times and set up another 13 assists in his 52 appearances last term.
Blessed with electric pace under his boots and a bag of skills to go with it, Martins could be the missing piece Arsenal has been yearning for since the departure of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Theo Walcott. The North London side needs an out-and-out winger to stretch the floor and to give creative heads like Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan something to aim towards.
Martins could be fielded on either flanks to supply Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang inside the box. He can take on defenders on the dribble and will almost immediately be handed over a key role if he hits the ground running on his arrival.
A speedy wide man is always welcomed in modern day football and Martins could be Arsenal’s golden ticket to a much improved 2018/19 season. They are coming off another season without a Champions League spot and Emery will need the necessary squad additions to succeed into the shoes of Arsene Wenger.
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The Spanish boss should strongly consider an official approach even if the move is not sanctioned for free this summer.
