Fulham are one of a number of English clubs interested in River Plate playmaker Gonzalo Martinez, according to reports coming out of Argentina today.
The Premier League new boys join Lazio, Southampton, Tottenham and Everton are all keen on signing the highly-rated 25 year-old attacking midfielder. Various reports from Argentina claim that Martinez’s agent is currently on a European tour speaking to potential suitors, with River Plate resigned to losing one of their prized assets should anyone match Martinez’s €15m release clause.
Martinez has scored 23 goals and made 23 more in 158 appearances for River Plate and will avoid the usual work permit travails of south American imports to Europe as he holds an Italian passport. The left-footed midfielder, known by the nickname ‘Pity’ in his homeland, burst onto the national side by helping Huracan win the Copa Argentina in 2015. He soon moved to River Plate and quickly established himself in the feted Millonario side of 2015 that won the Copa Libertadores and were beaten by Barcelona in the Club World Championship final.
Despite enduring a difficult 2016 at El Monumental, Gonzalez won his way back into the hearts of the River Plate by delivering devastating individual performances as his side won two Superclásicos against Boca Juniors and has now rediscovered the consistency of his earlier years. A versatile attacking midfielder, equally comfortable operating as an orthodox left winger or behind the strikers, Gonzalez is renowned for his dribbling ability and taking on defenders.
Slavisa Jokanovic is known to be seeking reinforcements in attacking areas but it remains to be seen whether Fulham would be interested in activating a hefty release clause for a player who is untried in Europe.
