Premier League giants Chelsea are ready to test Porto’s resolve with a £25m bid for star striker Jackson Martinez in the summer, claim talkSPORT.
The Colombian is reportedly unsettled in Portugal and will reconsider his future in May despite having a contract till 2016 with the club.
The striker’s agent Manuel Manso told TMW, “Until May we will not talk with any team. He’s focused on the end of the season with Porto – once the championship is finished we will see.”
Porto have been struggling domestically this season and are currently third in the standings, a mammoth 15 points behind leaders Benfica. Jackson has become one of the most sought after strikers in Europe following his move to Porto from Mexican side Chiapas in 2012.
The Colombian is a supreme goal poacher, a lethal striker who can finish with both feet and has the ability to turn any game on the its head with his devastating finishing abilities. Martinez has scored 21 times in 36 appearances for Porto this season with a 0.58 goal ratio per game.
Chelsea’s search for a striker is well documented with none of Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres or Demba Ba living up to expectations. Torres was scouted by Inter President Erik Thohir this week as a move to Italy looks imminent. Demba Ba is also believed to be leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer despite scoring the winning goal against PSG in the Champions League quarter final this week.
We had earlier reported that Martinez had hinted on a move to the lucrative Premier League but any sort of deal failed to materialise in the January transfer window.
Sources in Italy have claimed Roma and Napoli are extremely interested in a possible switch, while Manchester United too want the Colombian. German daily Bild have reported that Borussia Dortmund have also entered the race to sign the hitman.
What do you think? Where will Martinez end up in the summer? Let me know in the comments below…
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