Transfer new: Arsenal eye Porto star Jackson Martinez who has £33m release clause, if Alvaro Morata switch fails

Arsenal are in urgent need of striking options after injuries threaten to derail their season

Samuel Stevens
Wednesday 08 January 2014 12:17 GMT
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Arsenal target Jackson Martinez
Arsenal target Jackson Martinez

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Arsene Wenger will turn his attentions to Porto star Jackson Martinez should he fail in a second attempt to persuade Real Madrid into letting Alvaro Morata leave on loan, according to reports.

According to The Daily Mail the Arsenal manager is reluctant to sign a permanent replacement for Theo Walcott, out for the remainder of the season, as he would prefer to save money until the summer transfer window.

However the Premier League leaders have been forced into entering the January transfer window after injuries to Olivier Giroud, Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott rendered them alarmingly in need of striking options.

Wenger's preference has always been to wait six months to spend big on one of his top strike targets; including Bayern Munich's Mario Mandzukic, Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.

With many of them looking increasingly unrealistic midway through the season, the 64-year-old will do his level best to keep costs down until then.

Colombia striker Martinez is a leading candidate and fits the bill. Possibly available on loan until the end of the season, the 27-year-old has a £33.2million release clause.

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