Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool showed the world that they are more than capable of beating the best teams in the game after their tremendous result against Manchester City recently. But the manager will still be busy in the transfer market, trying to add players who can help them get some silverware this season.
The Reds lost Philippe Coutinho recently and might be looking to replace him before the end of the month and a number of star names are constantly linked with a move to Anfield this month. One player Liverpool are reportedly close to landing is Portuguese international Gelson Martins.
Liverpool close to signing Martins
The Reds have been busy ever since they completed the sale of their Brazilian talisman and are reportedly looking at Martins as an option to replace him in the first team. Reports from Portugal claim that Liverpool have opened talks with the player, who is reportedly excited with the deal on offer and the chance to play for the club.
It is claimed that he could earn £80,000-a-week, which is considerably more than what he is earning right now. However, Liverpool will now have to negotiate with the club over the price of this deal. It is understood that Sporting Lisbon, his current club, want the Reds to match his valuation of €60m.
A clause in his contract also allows the Portuguese outfit to increase the release clause to €100m, which will make him an expensive investment. So is he the right man for Liverpool?
Who is Martins?
Having made it into the senior side at Sporting, from their academy, back in 2015, Martins is one of the most exciting wingers currently in the country. At just 22, he has already made 79 top-flight appearances in Primeira Liga, where he has managed 15 goals. He also has 15 international caps for Portugal, making him an established star.
Known for his extraordinary pace, Martins is a gifted footballer, who is among the quickest wingers in the game at the moment. He can dribble past his man with ease and plays mostly on the right wing. He can also cut in and find the back of the net consistently but is a genuine winger, who loves to get in behind the backline.
He is also an excellent passer and is hardly wasteful with the ball while his ability to hold up play in tough games, against tough opponents, makes him even more dangerous. He is, however, weak in the air and is unconcerned about the defensive aspect of the game, something Klopp will have to work on.
Should Liverpool consider paying €60m / €100m?
The story from Portugal also claims that Liverpool are not too interested in getting his deal done this month. But with the World Cup coming up, Martins’ price could increase rapidly and if Jurgen Klopp believes that the Portuguese man can be of good use to his Liverpool side, the Reds should go all in this month itself.
However, with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hogging the wings, Martins is not an immediate necessity at Anfield. He is not the right man to replace Coutinho and his price tag is far too expensive for Liverpool’s needs at the moment.