Arsenal are preparing to battle Atletico Madrid and Valencia to sign Jackson Martinez this summer. The Porto man has impressed at the World Cup, as he scored two goals in his last game, to help Colombia get through to the last 16 with a 100 per cent record.
He has also enjoyed a few sensational seasons at Porto, where he has bagged 60 goals in 89 starts since 2012. That great form has seen him linked with a host of top European clubs and Arsenal want to be the team that finally snatches his signature. However, to do so, they would need to fight off interest from Atletico Madrid and Valencia.
Valencia now have money to spend after they were successfully taken over earlier this summer and they want Martinez, as they look to build a squad capable of reaching the Champions League. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are considering a move for the 27-year old as a replacement for Diego Costa, who looks set to join Chelsea.
The Colombian cost Porto just £6.5m when he signed for the club, but he will be valued much higher now. Reports suggest that there is a huge £33.2m release clause in his current deal. It may seem like a lot, but Portuguese newspaper A Bola is claiming that Arsene Wenger is willing to match that amount, to make sure that Martinez is playing at the Emirates Stadium in the 2014/15 season.
By Charlie Gregory
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