Arsenal Transfer News: Jackson Martinez and Juan Quintero £60m Swoop Tipped

Arsenal's woes this season relate largely to defence, but Arsene Wenger would appear to have his eyes fixed on attacking recruits in 2015 with a mega-money move planned for Porto pair Jackson Martinez and Juan Quintero.

According to the Daily Star's Alex Harris, the Colombian internationals would cost roughly £30 million each. Martinez was quoted in the report hinting at a move next summer.

"My agent is in charge of the negotiations, I prefer to stay out of it. At the end of the season I hope to get some interesting proposals," he said recently.

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Martinez has incessantly been associated with an exit from the Estadio do Dragao in recent years, following in the footsteps of Hulk and Radamel Falcao, prolific sources of South American talent in front of goal who were transferred from Porto.

The striker has yet to see a departure materialise since Porto have managed to hang onto his services. OptaFranz and OptaJose tell of his success, particularly in European competition:

Harris cites the attacker's record of 72 goals in 102 appearances for the Dragons. Despite Danny Welbeck's arrival in north London this past summer, Wenger looks eager to amass a more threatening array of attackers at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have seen that their options up front have been somewhat limited in the absence of the injured Olivier Giroud. Were it not for the swift adaptation to the English top flight from Alexis Sanchez, the club may have found itself in deeper trouble this term.

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While Martinez would be a more natural fit as striker, Quintero resembles a prospect more similar to Sanchez, a maestro capable of playing on either flank but who also thrives as the middleman behind the forward line.

Quintero was closely linked with Arsenal over the summer, and while his promise is great, South American football writer Rupert Fryer argues the hype around his name might be premature:

Arsenal already have a wealth of players who are more than capable in such an area, however, and Quintero could find himself battling against Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla were he to complete a switch.

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe recently took a tactical look at the Gunners' line-up, insisting that Ozil—currently out until the new year—must be played through the centre in order to get the most out of his ability:

Harris' report also claims Quintero's contract comes complete with a release clause of just above £30 million. Wenger's side have shown a new fervour to compete in the transfer market of late, clinching big-money deals for Ozil and Sanchez, and more ambition would be needed in order to bring in Quintero.

Given the lack of depth at the back, however, supporters of the club may prefer to see such a hefty amount aimed at the back line, a position in which the club are yet to really make any moves of the same size.