Manchester United Transfer News: Jackson Martinez Rumours Emerge and More

Rumours have emerged Manchester United will target Porto striker Jackson Martinez after sending a scouting party to watch the player.

Joe Short of the Daily Express says Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal is considering an approach for the £27.5 million-rated attacker, who is also being tracked by Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Short writes that Portuguese outlet A Bola claim United scouts were present at Porto's 2-0 win against Moreirense—with Martinez once again scoring.

However, the player's agent has spoken out against a move to England for his client, claiming Martinez will be heading for Italy if he leaves Portugal any time soon, per Short: "His desire is clear: he wants to play in Serie A. He has his heart set on Italy and if he were to leave Porto then Serie A would be his first choice."

The 28-year-old Colombian has been prolific since joining his club in 2012, scoring 85 goals in just 120 appearances, per talkSPORT.

Martinez would be viewed as a solution to United's goal-shy attack, who are currently struggling to compete with EPL defences.

Karel Navarro/Associated Press

The striker is a classic predatory player, and his arrival would surely mean an exit for either Radamel Falcao—who is only on loan at United—or Robin van Persie.

Falcao is well known to Martinez, with both being international team-mates for several years, and there could be a chance LvG sees them as a more natural partnership, should he decide to retain El Tigre.

In other news, reports suggest LvG is prepared to sell Phil Jones and Chris Smalling at the end of the campaign, as he looks to rebuild United's defensive line.

Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star writes that sources in the Netherlands believe both centre-backs will be sacrificed, saying: "Van Gaal is allegedly unhappy with the duo's failure to adapt to his system."

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Both Jones and Smalling have once again suffered injury-hit seasons, severely affecting their performance values and form.

Jones has been used in several new ways since his return to action, which has also strangely seen him as the taker for set pieces and corners.

Freelance writer Rich Laverty recently called for this practice to stop, as the Red Devils prepare to take on Burnley at Old Trafford. WhoScored positively identified Jones as one of the EPL's best defenders, highlighting his excellent interception rate:

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It is no secret that many of United's stalwarts have struggled adjusting to life under Van Gaal's highly technical regime, and Jones and Smalling have been guilty of this.

However, their injuries have been their primary hindrance, and both appear to be improving as they play more matches.

Jones appears to have gotten the nod to play alongside Marcos Rojo at the heart of the defence, and he performed well against West Ham United.

Smalling has also played to a good standard when he has featured, but if LvG does purchase a big-name defender in the summer, one of the two will surely be moved.

At the moment, it is impossible to say which one, but with Jones only 22 years old, there is still plenty of development left in him.

Smalling is seen as a less talented individual than Jones, but he would attract significant interest should he come onto the market.