According to ‘reports’ (via TalkSPORT) Liverpool will duke it out with both Manchester United and Turkish League toppers, Galatasaray, to sign FC Porto Jackson Martinez.
Whilst most consider Porto’s most promising young talent to be James Rodriguez (an ace, Cristiano Ronaldo-esque, Colombian winger), fans should not turn their nose up at Jackson Martinez.
For a start, his goal-scoring form has been extremely impressive this season. He’s notched 23 goals in 25 games and is a constant threat in and around the penalty area. He exudes calm, can work the ball in tight areas and has the confidence and ability to shoot from all angles and distances (within reason!).
But he’s more than just a goal-machine. He’s a smart player, with quick feet, who can hold the ball up neatly, knock it to a team mate, or take a player on. There’s a lot of different aspects to his game and he represents a really rather versatile forward. I’m not surprised that his reputation has grown so quickly and that some of Europe’s biggest clubs are hovering around Porto, getting ready to swoop.
What I don’t understand, are the comparisons that have been rolling in, comparing Martinez to Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao and Napoli’s Edinson Cavani. Yes, all three have had excellent, goal-packed seasons, but Falcao and Cavani have been doing this for years at the top level. Martinez, on the other hand, only joined Porto last summer, moving from Mexican side Jaguares.
So as things currently stand, there’s no guarantee that he’s no one-season wonder. This makes the claims that bidding could start at £37.5m seem a little preposterous. Signing Martinez for this fee, would represent a gamble similar to that made by Kenny Dalglish when he brought Andy Carroll to Liverpool.
Speaking of the Reds, it’s Brendan Rodgers’ boys who desperately need a forward like Martinez to bolster their forward lines.
After all, that Andy Carroll experiment didn’t really work out did it? Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez aren’t enough to challenge for silverware and Rodgers must push on in the transfer market to give the Reds a proper chance. He’ll have to get his negotiating cap on though, as there’s no way he can justify buying Martinez at that price.
Manchester United, on the other hand, are flush with strikers. They’ve got one of the best forward line-ups in Europe and don’t really need further additions (unless somebody leaves).
This is one battle, where Liverpool may well be able to beat Manchester United.
What’s your take? Should the Reds look to seal a deal for Jackson Martinez?
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go get him now before other club do he is a good player to watch