Arsenal are expected to sign a striker in January.
The Gunners were in for several big-name forwards in the summer such as Luis Suarez, Gonzalo Higuain and Wayne Rooney but could only manage to sign 20-year-old Yaya Sanogo on a free from Auxerre.
As a result, the club and fans are hoping and praying to keep Olivier Giroud fit from now until the transfer window re-opens. Should he sustain an injury or pick up a suspension then Arsene Wenger will have to put his faith in either Sanogo or Nicklas Bendtner, with both players yet to find the net.
It’s unknown if Wenger will enter the market for a striker in January though. But a player they have been looking at, according to the Daily Mail, is Porto’s prolific forward Jackson Martinez. As a result, the Portuguese club are prepared to offer the 27-year-old a massive pay rise to keep him from Arsenal’s clutches.
It is believed he will be offered around £45,000 to remain at the Estadio do Dragao until 2018, and will also, reportedly, increase his £32 million release clause to around the £45 million mark. All of this of course to deter Arsenal’s interest in the Colombia international.
Martinez has scored an incredible 36 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions for Porto since joining them from Chiapas last season.
The Colombian has proven to be a clinical in front of goal in Portugal and as well as the Champions League, and Arsenal could well do with someone so prolific up front if they are to seriously contend for titles this season.
Even if the details are accurate about Martinez’s new deal, I am not ruling out anything involving our club, having been shocked by the signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for just over £42 million in the summer.
