Liverpool’s hopes of signing Sporting Lisbon winger Gelson Martins this summer may just have been reignited with the news from his agent in the Daily Express that he will not be moving to Benfica as has been suggested.
The versatile right-sided flyer, who can also play as a secondary striker, has attracted interest following the 13 goals and 13 assists he registered last season.
And The Express claim Klopp’s side has been handed a “major boost” by the news.
With many players at the Primeira Liga outfit ripping up their contracts due to in-house fighting and attacks from supporters, the 23-year-old could be available on a free transfer.
As quoted in the Daily Express via his Facebook feed, Ulisses Santos who represents Martins stated: “Being the agent of Gelson Martins, I have as a top priority his tranquility, and maximum concentration to be able to do what he knows, professional football.
“For this reason, and considering the sports media agenda has been very busy around his future, I come to inform you that Martins’ next club will not be SL Benfica.”
OPINION:
After Liverpool agreed terms with Mo Salah which saw the Egyptian put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Anfield, there has to be question marks as to where and how Martins would even fit into the side. There is no way that he would usurp Salah’s position in the side and a player of the Portuguese star’s ability really ought to be playing week in and week out which is something that Jurgen Klopp would be unable to guarantee the 23-year-old. As Martins would likely come with high wages but possibly no transfer fee – it was thought that the Portuguese ace would cost in the region of £60m – the link to Liverpool smacks of transfer tittle-tattle and idle gossip. Put simply, no matter how good Martins is, his future does not lie on Merseyside. But with Arsenal also being talked about as a potential destination, at least according to the Telegraph, he would surely be much more likely ending up there.