Josef Martinez was linked with Premier League duo Everton and Newcastle United after scoring goals for fun in the MLS with Atlanta United.
The last thing Josef Martinez needed right now was a long spell on the sidelines.
The Venezuelan international is in the form of his life, finding the net in 15 consecutive games for Atlanta United with Lionel Messi’s world-record scoring spree (which stands at 21 games) firmly in his sights.
And, as recently as last week, The Chronicle claimed that Newcastle United were mulling over a January move for a prolific goalscorer who shone alongside Miguel Almiron, The Magpies’ flailing £20 million playmaker, in last season’s MLS Cup winning Atlanta team.
Everton, who drew yet another blank in Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield United, are interested in Martinez too.
But Atlanta could be without their star striker for a while with the 26-year-old stretchered off during this weekend’s 3-1 win against San Jose Earthquakes. The sight of a stricken Martinez is simply the stuff of nightmares not just for Atlanta fans but also for manager Frank de Boer and Premier League scouts respectively.
“I’m afraid that he has something serious, but we have to wait. They’re evaluating him now,” the former Crystal Palace boss, who has led his side to third in the MLS standings, told Goal.
“Probably tomorrow we can have a better diagnosis and then we have to make our plan. Hopefully it’s not so bad. But I can’t say if it’s good or bad. I don’t know.”
A lengthy absence not only threatens to derail Atlanta’s season with just two months remaining, it also threatens a potential move to the Premier League for a man who has plundered 86 goals in 95 games since moving to America from Torino.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
