Arsenal have contacted Portuguese club FC Porto over the availability of their 27-year-old striker Jackson Martinez.

Martinez has been on the Arsenal radar since the summer, and accelerated the chances of a deal happening by claiming that he is a Gunners fan.

A stumbling block in the deal would be Martinez’s hefty asking price, with the Portuguese champions likely to ask for in excess of £33million in order to active his release clause. Despite this, Wenger’s desperation for attacking backup – now made worse by the long term absence of Theo Walcott – could force him into another big transfer window deal.

Nicklas Bendtner faces a long span on the sidelines, and was never a worthy replacement for first choice striker Oliver Giroud in the first place. And with the burden on Giroud’s shoulders greater than ever, the need for a backup has never been so strong.

Big spend or big risk?

The favoured option, however, seems to be Real Madrid’s Spanish U21 starlet Alvaro Morata.

Morata has been a target for both North London clubs this window, with Spurs apparent “partnership” with the Galacticos continuing to play it’s one-way effect in taking Spurs best players with no returns.

They remain adamant that they’ll get something from the La Liga side, however a deal to bring Morata to the Emirates looks much more likely. That was the case until earlier today, when we reported that Carlo Ancelotti would not be expecting any ins or outs this window:

“Our thinking is very clear. There will be no new players and no exits. We have a very good squad”

Pricey or nothing

That leaves Martinez as the best hope, with Diego Costa going nowhere due to his World Cup dreams with Spain.

Barcelona’s Pedro had been touted as a possible signing however a centre-forward is likely to take precedence.

Wenger mentioned after the signing of Mesut Ozil last summer that he would not be afraid of spending big again, and now seems to be the optimum time for him to take up in his word.

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