Transfer Centre

Arsenal 'could sign £60m-rated Gelson Martins for free'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 06 June 2018

Arsenal are reportedly leading the race to sign Sporting Lisbon winger Gelson Martins, and could land the £60m-rated Portugal international on a free transfer.

Arsenal are reportedly leading the race to sign Sporting Lisbon winger Gelson Martins, and could land the £60m-rated Portugal international for free.

Martins is understood to be the latest player to look to terminate his contract with Sporting after a section of the club's fans attacked the players at their training ground ahead of the Taca de Portugal final last month.

Rui Patricio and Daniel Podence have already told the club that they are looking to cancel their deals in the wake of the attack, and Tuttomercato reports that Martins could also look for a way out.

Should that be the case then the 23-year-old - who is valued at around £60m by Sporting - would be available on a free transfer this summer.

A number of clubs are thought to be monitoring the highly-rated winger's situation, but the report claims that Arsenal are in pole position for his signature as things stand.

Martins, who has won 18 caps for Portugal and is part of their squad for this summer's World Cup, scored 13 goals and created 13 more in 52 appearances for Sporting last season.