According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United and Chelsea will be watching Jackson Martinez closely for the rest of the semester. Martinez is a striker for FC Porto and may be a backup option this summer for these clubs.
Martinez is 27 years old and a Colombian international, who looks like a solid player from his time in the Portuguese league. United really want Edinson Cavani and Chelsea are hoping to sign Diego Costa, but if the sides struggle to get their first options, Martinez could be a good backup plan.
Martinez has scored 21 goals in 31 games in all competitions this season, which is still a good strike rate. It is also being reported that Arsenal are also watching Martinez as well, even though he would not be a cheap signing.
Porto are reportedly looking for a transfer fee in the region of 25 million pounds, which could be a bit high for Arsenal to come in. But maybe Chelsea would pay it, if the strikers they want do not come and they continue to get more desperate.
If Jackson Martinez came to United or Chelsea, he would help but he would definitely not be the ideal signing for either club. Chelsea need a striker that can hold the ball up, but also play one touch passing with his feet and link up with the midfielders behind him. I think Martinez would be a better fit for United than Chelsea just because they could drop Rooney in the “hole” behind him.
I give this potential transfer only a ‘5’ as far as helping, only because Martinez has shown he can score goals, something strikers are judged upon. He is not in the same discussion as Cavani or Costa at the moment but he still can score goals consistently.
Martinez has done well for Porto since arriving there in 2009 but has been linked with moves away in the last year or so. The Colombian is a good striker and I could see him leaving the club if a bigger club comes in and pays the transfer fee. Martinez will only be signed by United or Chelsea if these clubs fail to get their top priorities and the situation becomes more desperate than ever before. With that being said, as of now, I give this likelihood only a 10 percent chance.
