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Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger closes in on £24.7m Porto striker Jackson Martinez

Liverpool have also been linked with the 28-year-old Colombian

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The Independent Football
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Jackson Martinez scored 21 goals for Porto this season AFP/Getty Images

Arsenal are prepared to match Porto's £24.7 million release clause and sign Jackson Martinez, according to reports.

The Colombian striker was strongly linked with a move to the Gunners during the last two transfer windows, but Arsene Wenger kept faith with Olivier Giroud, who scored 14 Premier League goals for the club in an injury-affected season.

However, the Express reports that Arsenal are finally ready to meet Porto's valuation of the striker and bring him to the Emirates.

Liverpool have also targetted the 28-year-old, with Brendan Rodgers facing an eleventh-hour challenge from Tottenham for the signature of Burnley striker Danny Ings.

The Arsenal summer signings that would please Thierry Henry

The Arsenal summer signings that would please Thierry Henry

  • 1/12 GOALKEEPER - Petr Cech

    The long-serving Chelsea stopper has been told he will be allowed to leave this summer having seen Thibaut Courtois claim the No 1 jersey at Stamford Bridge. They don't come much more experienced and at 32-years-old, the Czech Republic international still has many good years ahead of him.

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  • 2/12 GOALKEEPER - Iker Casillas

    Whether the Real Madrid goalkeeper will be available has much to do with David De Gea's future. Should the Manchester United stopper move to the Bernabeu, Casillas could seek pastures new. The World Cup winner has long been linked with the Emirates.

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  • 3/12 GOALKEEPER - Hugo Lloris

    If the north London derby wasn't bitter enough already, Lloris trading Tottenham for Arsenal would add yet another bone of contention between them. The Frenchman is among the best goalkeepers out there and the continued absence of Champions League football at White Hart Lane would be enough for him to push for a summer move.

  • 4/12 CENTRE-BACK - Ron Vlaar

    After reaching the FA Cup final, Vlaar suggested he could yet remain at Aston Villa. But once the excitement has died down, the out-of-contract centre-back may opt to move and Arsenal could do far worse.

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  • 5/12 CENTRE-BACK - Virgil van Dijk

    The Celtic centre-back continues to impress in Scotland and is being monitored by a number of clubs. Among them is Arsenal, who reportedly made enquiries about the 23-year-old before signing Gabriel Paulista in January. John Hartson said of the Dutchman: 'Is he top notch? Is he as good as the Laurent Koscielny's of this world? I think he is. I think he is a top-six Premier League player. I really do.'

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  • 6/12 LEFT-BACK - Jose Luis Gaya

    Arsenal have reportedly been watching the 19-year-old Spaniard throughout the season and are readying a bid for this summer. The defender is said to have rejected a new contract at Valencia, giving the Gunners hope of completing a £13.6m deal.

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  • 7/12 HOLDING MIDFIELDER - Sami Khedira

    The World Cup winner will be a free agent at the end of the season and having come close to joining Arsenal last summer, reportedly remains on Arsene Wenger's radar. There will be no shortage of suitors for the Real Madrid player.

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  • 8/12 HOLDING MIDFIELDER - Morgan Schneiderlin

    The Southampton midfielder has made no secret of his desire to move to a Champions League club and Arsenal would be a suitable fit for the France international. Having resisted last summer, it seems unlikely Saints will be able to keep serious bidders at bay again.

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  • 9/12 HOLDING MIDFIELDER - Victor Wanyama

    An alternative to Schneiderlin is his Southampton team-mate Wanyama. The Gunners were reportedly in the mix when the Kenyan moved to St Mary's from Celtic a couple of years ago.

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  • 10/12 STRIKER - Edinson Cavani

    Thierry Henry has suggested Olivier Giroud is not the striker to lead Arsenal to the title - so could Cavani? The Uruguay international has been linked with Arsenal for years and there are rumours PSG could be willing to let him leave this summer.

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  • 11/12 STRIKER - Gonzalo Higuain

    The Argentina international was meant to be on the verge of joining the Gunners a couple of years ago before eventually ending up at Napoli. The 27-year-old could be on the move again with reports that his current club are prepared to sell in order to reinvest his fee in the squad.

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  • 12/12 STRIKER - Paulo Dybala

    An alternative Argentinian would be Dybala, the 21-year-old who has enjoyed a breakthrough season with Palermo. A host of clubs are on the trail and Arsenal won't find he comes cheap. More of a gamble than the other options here.

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The Porto president, Nuno Pinto da Costa, has admitted that Martinez may have played his last game for the club. He said: "He’s a player we want to keep, but we cannot stop someone paying the clause."

The Colombian, who has scored 10 goals in 35 international appearances, spoke about the possibility of a move to England in February.

"Right now I only focus on doing my job with Porto, but I'm ready to make the leap in the next window," he said.

"I have my head focused only on the work I'm doing at Porto at the moment and when the transfer window re-opens, we shall see what will happen."

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