Liverpool are set to face tough competition for a man teasing the traits to be one of the summer’s bargain acquisitions.
Gelson Martins promises to have offers falling at his feet after joining a number of Sporting Lisbon teammates in cancelling his contract following an attack by fans at the club’s training ground.
The Portuguese winger has surfaced as a possible Liverpool target having fit the bill as the mould of attacking outlet capable of bolstering the team’s strength in depth.
Liverpool had been in talks over a deal for Martins last summer before eventually signing Mohamed Salah from Roma.
Having been valued at a reported £52m in 2017, his availability on a free is an opportunity Klopp must surely pounce on as he prepares to mount a Premier League title challenge.
Time could also be at the essence, with Italian outlet Corriere Dello Sport claiming AC Milan have entered the race for Martins.
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The 23-year-old has unsurprisingly also been linked with Arsenal as newly-appointed manager Unai Emery looks to strengthen his squad with limited funds at his disposal.
Martins registered 13 goals and 13 assists last season, following a 2016/2017 campaign in which seven goals and 14 assists in 44 appearances warranted initial interest from on Merseyside.
Sadio Mane’s success in Klopp’s system appeared a blue-print to Liverpool’s approach moving forward, with Martins’ similar pace and directness flaunting him as an ideal fit to follow suit.
With Xherdan Shaqiri also being targeted, it remains to be seen whether interest in Martins will be reliant on the outcome of a pursuit for the Stoke City man.