Arsenal is being linked with a host of strikers this January including Porto’s Colombian striker Jackson Martinez who is continually talking about a move and refuses to sign a new contract with the club as he does not want to see his buyout clause increase.
Now though according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo in Wednesday’s edition they are claiming that Arsenal is close to signing Benfica striker Rodrigo who joined the Portuguese side in 2010 from Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old Spaniard is under contract with Benfica till 2019 but with the club needing to raise cash O Jogo is saying that Nemanja Matic will not be the only player to go this transfer window as the club seeks to balance its books.
It had been rumoured that Benfica was trying to negotiate a 30€ million deal with a Russian club for Rodrigo, but his father and agent Adalberto Machado says that he would not be interested in a less competitive league as he wants to get into the Spanish national team.
Arsenal of course would not be interested in paying 30€ million for Rodrigo but given Benfica’s current financial situation it would not be foolish of Arsenal to make them an offer.
A Gunners scout was at the match over the weekend in which Benfica beat Porto 2-0 presumably to watch Martinez, but it is equally possible he was there to watch Rodrigo who incidentally scored Benfica’s first goal.
