Gelson Martins has agreed a deal with Atletico Madrid and will not be signing for Liverpool, reports the Mirror.
The Sporting Lisbon ace terminated his contract with his boyhood club before the World Cup and is therefore available on a free transfer – but it looks like we’ve missed out on a potential bargain.
Ultras invaded Sporting’s training ground and attacked players, which meant Martins and others were legally allowed to terminate their deals on safety grounds.
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Rui Patricio, their former keeper, has joined Wolves already, having done the same.
Martins has long been linked to Liverpool because of his pace, trickery and ability on the counter, but it now seems the 23-year-old will work under Diego Simeone and not Jurgen Klopp.
It’s a shame, as we need a talented, quick inside forward for the bench, to back up Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
Martins would have fitted the bill perfectly, especially considering he wouldn’t have cost a transfer fee, freeing up funds for a blockbuster move elsewhere.
Atletico bought Thomas Lemar earlier this window, with the Frenchman a very well-publicised former Liverpool target himself.
The Spaniards also kept hold of Antoine Griezmann and are finally proving that they’re more than just an overachieving selling club.