Liverpool and Arsenal handed Gelson Martins boost
Liverpool and Arsenal have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon's Gelson Martins.
The Portuguese star looks set to leave this summer after an ongoing dispute with club chiefs.
A number of Sporting players have demanded to have their contracts ripped up after 50 masked fans attacked players and staff in May.
Since then, Martins has attracted a lot of interest from European clubs, most notably Liverpool and Arsenal.
However, reports this week linked the 23-year-old with a shock move to Portuguese rivals Benfica.
But Martins' agent has moved quickly to dispel those rumours.
"Being the agent of Gelson Martins, I have as a top priority his tranquility, and maximum concentration to be able to do what he knows, professional football,” Ulisses Santos wrote on Facebook.
"For this reason, and considering the sports media agenda has been very busy around his future, I come to inform you that Martins’ next club will not be SL Benfica."
Martins would have previously cost suitors around £60m this summer.
However, a host of clubs will be hoping the winger succeeds in exiting his contract at Sporting.
Liverpool and Arsenal are also battling it out to sign Real Madrid attacker Lucas Vazquez this summer.
The Spaniard will be returning home this week after his country was knocked out of the World Cup by Russia on penalties over the weekend.
Source: Daily Express
This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.