The Manchester City revolution looks set to continue with reports linking Sporting CP winger Gelson Martins as a likely candidate to join the Pep Entourage at the Etihad.
The Portuguese speedster made his debut last season but was mainly restricted to substitute appearances. But after the departure of fellow countryman Joao Mario to Inter Milan earlier in the summer, Martins has got the chance to prove himself and he has not disappointed till now.
The winger has been in fine form ever since he broke into the first team under manager Jorge Jesus. Martins is capable of playing on the right wing and can also fill the void of a fullback and it is exactly the sort of versatility Pep Guardiola looks for in his players. The youngster is devastating due to his blistering pace and close control of the ball. He has notched up 2 goals and a staggering 9 assists for his club this season.
The young man is full of confidence and has shown the potential of developing into one of the very best. Manchester City are looking to add more pace to an already impressive looking attack but they have to fight off rivals Manchester United, Chelsea as well as Real Madrid who have also scouted the player.
Pep Guardiola has always shown an inclination to work with the youth and nurture them into world-beaters. Although Guardiola is primarily known for his intricate passing game and looks to pack the midfield, he has added another dimension to his tactics and employs a winger who hogs the by-line most of the time during a game. He has preferred the pace of Sterling, Sane and Navas to exploit the space left empty by the opposition fullbacks and Martins will be another vital addition to that philosophy.
Gelson Martins is known for his pace and great dribbling ability and considering he is just 21, he along with Sterling can cause a lot of problems for the opposition with their speed on either wing. With David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in the side, City are capable of picking out passes in the wide areas on the pitch and the addition of Gelson Martins will certainly add more thrust and pace on the flanks.
It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for the young Portuguese winger whose talent has attracted all the big guns. Gelson Martins has a release clause of £52m but Sporting are desperate to increase it to fend off top clubs following such huge interest.
