FC Midtjylland are insisting that Emiliano Martinez is not for sale amid interest from Premier League trio West Ham United, Everton and Luton Town.
As sporting director Svend Graversen is at pains to point out, in conversation with ViaPlay, the two-time Uruguay international is only a few months into the five-year contract he signed with Midtjylland in late-2022.
As such, despite rising interest from clubs in Europe’s most deep-pocketed and high-profile division, Midtjylland are under no immediate pressure to cash in. Then again, in the face of eye-watering offers from Premier League clubs, time will tell how iron-clad Graversen’s stance really is.
According to Uruguayan reporter Rodri Vazquez, Everton, West Ham and newly-promoted Luton are all keen on the industrious, deep-lying central midfielder.
And while Graversen is determined that Martinez goes nowhere, his insistence will be tested if a Hammers side with over £100 million in their back pocket following the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal step up their interest.
West Ham need a new midfielder after Declan Rice exit
“We brought him in last year, and we are happy that he is already in demand,” the Midtyjlland chief explains.
“He has to come in and perform for us. It is clear that, when you have already earned yourself the attention of bigger clubs, it is a positive thing. But in the end, it is all about him performing.
“We must have a sporting benefit from the impact he can have. So, he stays here.”
23-year-old Martinez, who made his Uruguay debut just last month, is one of a number of midfielders on West Ham’s radar.
David Moyes’ UEFA Conference League winners looked well placed to bring in Juventus’ former Chelsea loanee Denis Zakaria but the trail has grown cold somewhat over the last fortnight. Ajax’s Edson Alvarez is another leading candidate to take Rice’s place.
Everton, meanwhile, are prioritising attackers rather than midfielders at present. The Toffees have had a bid rejected by Leeds United for Wilfried Gnonto, and appear destined to miss out on El Bilal Toure to Atalanta despite agreeing a £23 million fee with La Liga outfit UD Almeria over the weekend, according to i News.
Toure should replace the Manchester United-bound Rasmus Hojlund in Bergamo.
“It is not only Everton. Officially, there are three clubs (who want) El Bilal, with formal offers on the table,” Almeria CEO Mohammed El Assy explains, via Diario de Almeria.
“Two of them are Italian, and one is English. And now we are in the middle of negotiations.”
Toure scored seven La Liga goals in 2022/23. One was a winner against Barcelona. Another an equaliser against Atletico Madrid.
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