Following links with William Carvalho and Bas Dost, Gelson Martins is the latest Sporting Lisbon star to be linked with West Bromwich Albion.
West Brom manager Tony Pulis
West Brom may be able to call upon wealthy Chinese investors to boost their strength in the transfer market but that surely does not mean they could legitimately take three star men from a regular Champions League club.
Yet, amid growing speculation linking them with summer moves for William Carvalho and Bas Dost, Calciomercato reports that The Baggies have now turned their attention to fellow Sporting Lisbon star Gelson Martins.
And this is perhaps the most ambitious deal of the three.
O Jogo reported recently that Euro 2016 winner Carvalho, an imposing and cultured central midfielder, may be allowed to leave the Portuguese giants for £21 million this summer. West Brom are also reported to have tried their luck in January and also last summer.
Furthermore, Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho admitted to Gianluca Di Marzio that gangly targetman Dost, who has blitzed 31 goals in 28 league games since signing from Wolfsburg last summer (below), could be sold – albeit for ‘crazy’ money.
Good luck
Signing Martins, however, could be a far more difficult task. The four-time Portugal international has a £50 million release clause in his contract, as reported by RTP, and, at the age of 21, its unlikely Sporting would let him leave now when they could sell him for far more in a few years’ time.
His development has been nothing short of frightening at the Estadio Jose Alvalade after all, with five goals and eight assists capping a terrific domestic campaign.
Furthermore, the Daily Mirror reported as recently as November that Manchester United were challenging Real Madrid, who he terrorised in the Champions League group-stages, for Martins’ sought-after signature.
Therefore, West Brom fans should probably avoid getting their hopes up just yet.
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