Journalist Dean Jones has said on the Football Terrace podcast that Lautaro Martinez could join Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur, but will not move to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
The well-known and well-respected journalist has claimed that he has been given the information that Arsenal failing to finish in the Premier League top four has cost them the chance to sign Inter Milan striker Martinez.
The Argentina international striker could join Tottenham this summer, according to Jones.
The Times reported in May that Arsenal and Tottenham are interested in signing Martinez, described as “perfect” by former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves on BT Sport 1 (2:27pm, December 13, 2021).
There have been reports that Martinez has turned down Arsenal, and that Chelsea are considering a move for the 24-year-old.
Lautaro Martinez could join Tottenham, not Arsenal
Jones said on the Football Terrace podcast, as transcribed by TheBootRoom: “At this stage, it’s not likely (that Martinez leaves Inter for England), but I was told that it’s still possible. If it’s going to happen, it won’t be to Arsenal, it could be to Tottenham.
“That was the information I given over the weekend. Arsenal missed out on the CL and that’s that. The fact that Tottenham have qualified gives them a better chance, if they want to go for him.”
Encouraging for Spurs, disappointing for Gunners
Dean Jones’s claim about Martinez is encouraging for Tottenham and will come as a blow for Arsenal.
Martinez is one of the best strikers around, and we know that Arsenal need at least two new players upfront.
With no Champions League football next season and the prospect of challenging for the Premier League title in the coming years slim, Arsenal are not really very appealing to a player who won Serie A with Inter in 2020-21.
Tottenham will play in the Champions League next season and also have a world-class manager in Antonio Conte, who worked with Martinez at Inter.
Martinez scored 21 goals and gave three assists in Serie A this past season, and scored 17 goals and provided six assists in the league in 2020-21.
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