Three Premier League clubs, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, are all reportedly interested in River Plate’s playmaker Gonzalo Martinez.
According to Calciomercato a week ago, the agent of River Plate playmaker Gonzalo Martinez travelled to England to discuss a potential move to the Premier League with three clubs understood to be interested.
Tottenham, Everton and Southampton have been tracking the progress of the left-footed 25-year-old, who scored seven goals and produced four assists for the Argentine giants in the 2017/18 season.
Skilful and creative, Martinez also has a release clause of just £13 million – which would be mere pocket change for both Tottenham and Everton. But latest comments from Mark Hughes suggest that Southampton would have a challenge luring Martinez to St Marys.
“We will probably have to sell or allow players to go out of the club if we’re likely to bring anybody in now I would think,” the Saints boss told the Daily Echo.
So far, only one first-team regular has been sold, Dusan Tadic to Ajax. Big money flops Sofiane Boufal and Guido Carrillo moved to Spain via Celta Vigo and Leganes respectively, but only on loan.
And, as it stands, there is no obvious candidate who is ripe for chop at St Mary’s. So Southampton’s hopes of funding a £13 million deal for Martinez look slim right now, opening the door for Everton and Tottenham to bring one of the biggest talents in Argentine football to the Premier League.
Of the two, Everton probably need Martinez more given their lack of creativity last season. Spurs have Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli already, while Heung-Min Son and Erik Lamela recently inked new deals.
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