Porto offers Arsenal target Jackson Martinez new contract

Jackson Martinez (R)

Porto has launched a bid to keep Portuguese football’s most promising striker from signing for Arsenal by offering him a major hike in salary which they believe will be enough for him to sign a new contract according to Daily Mail.

Jackson Martinez has been on Arsenal’s radar for a very long time as a partner for Olivier Giroud, and it is clear that they are all set to pursue him in the upcoming January transfer window.

Arsene Wenger believes that the Colombian striker can be the solution to the striker crisis in Arsenal, and his lethal finishing and presence has made him a perfect target. The striker boasts of an impressive record of scoring 33 goals in his 37 appearances since joining Porto at the end of last season.

Porto is well aware of this situation, and they have countered Arsenal by offering the youngster a much improved deal and an all new contract.

The Colombian striker has an existing contract till 2016, but he is being offered almost hundred percent rises to around £45,000 a week in a contract will keep him with the Portuguese champions till 2018.

Porto is also looking to increase the release clause of the player from £32million to a little over £45million in order to rival likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.

The striker signed for the club from the Mexican Primera Division side Chiapas and he immediately showed his class with 26 goals last season – six more than the second-placed Benfica frontrunner Lima – and has already succeeded in scoring seven times in the new season.