Liverpool and Arsenal could sign Gelson Martins for FREE due to Sporting Lisbon crisis
LIVERPOOL and ARSENAL may be set to profit from the ongoing crisis at Sporting Lisbon.
The Portuguese outfit are in complete turmoil at present due to an ongoing spat between a number of players and club president Bruno de Carvalho.
Sporting players were attacked by 50 masked men outside their training complex last month after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
De Carvalho also threatened to ban a host of stars after their Europa League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
And it appears a number of high-profile players have had enough.
According to Portuguese outfit OJogo, Gelson Martins, William Carvalho and Bruno Fernandes have joined Rui Patricio and Daniel Podence by demanding to be released from their contracts.
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I wish to end the contract that ties me to Sporting
The five players are threatening to leave for free unless De Carvalho steps down, which he shows no sign of doing.
This is good news for Arsenal and Liverpool, who have both been heavily linked with a move for Martins in recent months.
The winger would usually command a fee of around £30m.
But both Premier League outfits will be hopeful of securing Martins' signature on a free.
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Patricio was set to complete a £15m switch to Wolves last week before the Sporting president pulled the plug on the move, prompting the goalkeeper to demand a free exit.
"I was the victim of physical and psychological violence, so in order to preserve my personal and professional dignity, I wish to end the contract that ties me to Sporting.”
He is now expected to join Wolves on a free transfer.
William Carvalho is another Sporting star who has previously been linked with a move to England.
West Ham famously missed out on the midfielder after club chiefs fell out with Sporting officials.