Scout Report – Gelson Martins
Liverpool are reportedly interested in a January move for Sporting CP winger Gelson Martins. They are eyeing a cut-price deal for the promising youngster, whose release clause stands at £53million. However, the report also goes on to state that the Reds will increase his wages and pay him five times more than what he is earning at his current club. This is likely to seem like an offer too good to refuse and it will be interesting to see how this turns out.
Signing Martins will be a step in the right direction after losing Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona. Let’s take a closer look at what the Portuguese youngster offers.
History
Born in 1995 in Praia, Cape Verde, Martins forayed into the world of football as a youth player with Benfica and Sporting CP. His splendid displays earned him a promotion to Sporting’s B team in 2014 and later that year, he even made his professional debut for the club. Since then, he gradually rose above his competition and managed to establish himself as one of their most promising players. In 2015, Martins was promoted to the main team and there has been no looking back for him ever since.
As far as his international career goes, Martins has appeared for Portugal on every level – right from the U18 side to the U23. At present, he plays for the senior time and was a part of the team that played in the 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.
Playing Style
Martins can operate as a winger on either flank and is known for his raw attacking skills. He is adept at holding on to the ball, which is quite effective during build-up play. His dribbling and passing skills are top-notch and the player is also quite strong at making short passes, which often helps maintain fluidity in the game. However, he is known for committing fouls often and has already picked up 5 yellow cards this season. In addition to that, Martins is also quite weak when it comes to aerial encounters.
Martins’ Future
The prospect of joining Liverpool will certainly come as a great opportunity but it remains to be seen if Martins is willing to part ways with his boyhood club. He has been at Sporting CP for quite some time now and might not be keen on going to a foreign league. However, if he were to join Liverpool, he is likely to take some time before settling in but once he gets going, Martins can truly make a difference at Anfield.
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