Luis Campos holds talks with representatives of £70m forward who has fallen dramatically out of favour at Emirates Stadium
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos has held talks with Gabriel Martinelli's representatives, according to L'Equipe. The Brazilian winger has managed just one Premier League goal in an entire season for Arsenal.
The French champions' interest arrives as Martinelli endures the worst campaign of his career. Once valued at £70 million and considered one of Europe's most promising young attackers, the 24-year-old now finds himself behind teenagers in Mikel Arteta's pecking order.
PSG already possess three superior options on the left wing. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia arrived from Napoli this month in a marquee signing. Bradley Barcola has emerged as one of Ligue 1's most dangerous attackers. Désiré Doué offers versatility and youth.
The numbers tell the story. Martinelli's solitary league goal this season pales against PSG's current options:
Even in the Champions League, where Martinelli has performed marginally better, his output doesn't justify PSG's reported interest. The French club's transfer strategy appears increasingly scattergun after missing out on primary targets.
Arsenal won't sell cheaply. Despite his poor form, Martinelli remains under contract until 2027. The Gunners paid £6 million for him in 2019 and would demand a significant fee to offset his potential.
PSG's recent spending on Kvaratskhelia and previous investments in their attack make another expensive addition puzzling. The club needs defensive reinforcements and a long-term successor to Marquinhos more urgently than another underperforming winger.
Martinelli burst onto the scene in 2019-20, scoring 10 goals in his debut season. His pace, directness and work rate made him the perfect Arteta player. By 2022, Arsenal handed him a new contract reportedly worth £180,000 per week.
The drop-off has been stark:
More concerning than the numbers is his body language. The Brazilian appears bereft of confidence, often choosing the safe option rather than taking on defenders. His first touch has deserted him at crucial moments.
Arsenal's system has evolved beyond Martinelli's skillset. Arteta now demands inverted wingers who can create in tight spaces. Bukayo Saka adapted brilliantly on the right. Leandro Trossard offers the technical quality Arteta craves on the left.
Martinelli remains a transition player in a possession team. His best moments come in space on the counter-attack. Arsenal face low blocks every week where his pace becomes redundant. The Premier League has figured him out.
This potential deal represents everything wrong with modern football's transfer market. PSG don't need Martinelli. Arsenal shouldn't sell without a replacement lined up. The player himself needs regular football, not another bench role.
The Gunners sit fifth in the Premier League, their title challenge derailed by a lack of goals. Selling Martinelli without securing an upgrade would be negligent. Names like Nico Williams and Rafael Leão have been mentioned, but January moves for such players remain unlikely.
Arsenal's reported interest in Matheus Cunha suggests they recognise the need for attacking reinforcements. But selling Martinelli to fund a move leaves them short of options in a crucial run-in.
Martinelli seems like a bit of a gamble for PSG, especially as he probably wouldn't come very cheap.
CaughtOffside's assessment rings true. The Brazilian needs a fresh start, but PSG represents a sideways move at best. A loan to a mid-table Premier League side or a permanent switch to Spain would better serve his development.
For PSG, pursuing Martinelli when RB Leipzig's Loïs Openda remains available makes little sense. The Belgian offers everything Martinelli once did, with the crucial difference of current form.
These talks likely represent PSG casting their net wide rather than serious interest. Campos has a reputation for exploring multiple options simultaneously. With the transfer window closing on 3 February, time works against any deal.
Arsenal face a decision that could define their season. Keep an underperforming £70m asset and hope he rediscovers form, or cash in now and scramble for a replacement. Neither option looks particularly appealing for a club with fading title ambitions.
Martinelli's representatives will push for clarity on his future. At 24, he can't afford another season on the periphery. Whether that future lies in Paris, London, or elsewhere remains the January window's most intriguing subplot.
Gabriel Martinelli has scored just one Premier League goal this season for Arsenal. This represents a significant decline from his previous seasons where he was considered one of Europe's most promising young attackers.
PSG's interest in Martinelli is puzzling given they already have superior left-wing options including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Désiré Doué. The transfer strategy appears questionable considering their current squad depth in that position.
Gabriel Martinelli is under contract with Arsenal until 2027 and reportedly earns £180,000 per week. Despite his poor form this season, Arsenal won't sell cheaply given his long-term deal and previous £70 million valuation.
The Treatment RoomRB Leipzig have lost their most reliable impact substitute after Ezechiel Banzuzi suffered a knee injury, forcing Marco Rose to rethink his tactical approach. The Dutch midfielder's absence exposes squad depth issues as Leipzig face fixture congestion across multiple competitions.
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Martinelli's output has dropped dramatically from 15 goals and 5 assists in 2022-23, to 8 goals and 5 assists in 2023-24, and now just 1 goal and 2 assists in 20 appearances this season. His confidence and decision-making have also visibly deteriorated.
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