NOT for the first time in recent months, Liverpool have been linked with Colombian striker, Jackson Martinez.
The 25 year old front-man has been linked with the Anfield club several times already this season by a number of sources, and the rumours persist, with the Mail Online reporting that Liverpool scouts having watched him play on several occasions.
Martinez, who currently plays his football in Mexico for Jaguares, has scored 30 goals in 57 appearances for the club, including 17 from 31 this term.
He began his career with Independiente Medellin, where he scored 65 goals in 84 appearances and led them to their fifth Categoria Primera A title 1n 2009.
Martinez, who captains Jaguares, has also made ten appearances for the Colombian national side, scoring five goals, and is described as being quick, strong and good in the air as well as on the deck. Columnist Tim Vickery noted that the forward is:
“an out-and-out goalscorer, a front-to-goal centre-forward who can finish off both feet”
Liverpool are believed to face competition for the signature from Porto, with the fee likely to be around £4 million. The player himself has recognised the interest from both clubs whilst pointing out that negotiations will be ongoing, he told Colombian newspaper Nuevo Estadio:
“I am not in any advanced negotiations with Liverpool or Porto but I know they are personally interested. I have not spoken to anyone and that goes for my club and my agent. In the next few months things should be finalised.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool favourite Luis Suarez has pointed to a season of bad luck to explain Liverpool’s lack of goals in 2011/2012. The Reds have hit the frame of the goal 29 times during the campaign already and, in an exclusive interview with LFC Magazine, the Uruguayan remarked:
“When you shoot, you can look for the spaces between the posts and the goalkeeper, but instinctively, you usually aim for the corners, which means that there’s a chance the ball might hit the post. I think we have hit the post more times than the crossbar.
“Sometimes this happens. As a striker, you can shoot from 25 yards and hit the post with a shot that is technically perfect. But you can also be looking the wrong way, the ball hits you on the knee and it goes in. The next minute, you score again and you’re on a run. There is an element of luck.”
Suarez isn’t too concerned by the situation though and believes that fortune may return to favour Liverpool in the future.
“It would be more worrying if chances were not being created. Maybe next season, all the ones that hit the post and come out may go in.”
You can hear more from Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 and on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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Yep. The luck will change as soon as we buy a proper striker who can actually score goals and two midfield players who can create them.
Well, he at least appears that he might be fairly capable of becoming a prolific striker. And at the touted £4 million fee, it’s hard to argue really.
I wouldn’t mind bringing him in. Who knows, we may end up with a total bargain.
I’m also guessing that this summer might be one of wheeling and dealing, and attempts to go looking for cheap – as yet – un-discovered bargains.