Manchester United favourites to land Colombia strike ace
Published:
Manchester United are leading the race to sign sought-after striker Jackson Martinez, according to Ladbrokes.
The bookmaker has priced the Old Trafford club at the 5/1 favourites to land the Colombia strike ace this summer, with current club Porto resigned to losing their star man.
United boss Louis van Gaal is reportedly growing frustrated with Radamel Falcao’s inability to get up to speed in the Premier League and now sees his compatriot as the perfect replacement once the Monaco man’s loan deal comes to an end.
Martinez, 28, has been hugely impressive since signing for Porto in 2012, scoring 31 goals in his debut season, 29 last year and 25 from just 29 games so far this term.
By contrast, Falcao has looked a shadow of his former self since returning from a serious knee injury and has managed just four goals in 14 appearances since arrive at Old Trafford.
Porto will be able to command a high fee for their biggest asset, with Martinez contracted to the Estadio do Dragao until 2017, but Ladbrokes’ Jack Beresford feels United are willing to pay the price to land their man.
“With punters tipping a Martinez move to Old Trafford, Radamel Falcao’s time at Manchester United is shaping up to be short and not so sweet,” he said.
According to transfermarkt.co.uk Martinez has a current value of £26.4m but Porto are likely to orchestrate a bidding war with a number of other Premier league clubs interested in his signature.
Spurs, who would be struggling but for Harry Kane’s surprising rise to prominence, are next in the betting at 8/1, while Chelsea can be backed at 10/1 to scupper United’s plans.
Liverpool are said to view Martinez as a more suitable Luis Suarez replacement than either Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert and they can also be backed at 10/1 to sign the Porto man, with Manchester City and Arsenal further back at 12/1 and 14/1 respectively.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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