AS is linking us to...

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

Atletico Bilbao's spanish U21 player Javi Martinez. The 190 cm tall 19yo midfielder is viewed by AS to be a replacement to Momo Sissoko. Martinez has a buyout clause of about £16M.

[The incredible igor]

Atletico Bilbao's spanish U21 player Javi Martinez. The 190 cm tall 19yo midfielder is viewed by AS to be a replacement to Momo Sissoko. Martinez has a buyout clause of about £16M.

who's on their way out if we sign him? swap for momo?

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

who's on their way out if we sign him? swap for momo?

Dunno! Seems strange to buy him instead of tying down Masher. Probably not much in it anyway.

[AFII]

Every Bilbao player will cost a little bit extra because they are all Basque players and Bilbao only signs players from that region so it's very difficult to replace a quality player when they sell one.

They have the money to be a top club but that club rule more or less makes it impossible for them to win anything.

If Martinez would have played for Betis for example then he would probably cost around £6m-£7m and not £16m.

[AFII]

Liverpool are on the trail of Athletic Bilbao's brilliant young midfielder Javi Martinez.

The Basque playmaker has been outstanding this term at San Mames, carrying on from his successful campaign last season - which was his first in La Liga.

Athletic raised a number of eyebrows in Spain when they splashed out 6 million euros (£4.2million) for him as an untested 18-year-old playing with Osasuna's second string.

But 18 months on, some of Europe's biggest hitters are now tracking the 19-year-old who is also a regular in Spain Under 21 side.

Liverpool and Fiorentina are both tracking Martinez very carefully and scouts from both clubs have been present at recent Athletic games.

The Reds are currently well stocked with pivotal midfielders as Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Sissoko are all able partners for captain Steven Gerrard in the centre of the park.

But Rafa Benitez has never been afraid to bring fresh talent into his squad and so, with Sissoko reportedly unhappy with life as a squad man at Anfield, there could be room to bring Martinez in.

But Benitez also knows he is not the only man looking to land Martinez - whose current get-out clause stands at 24 million euros (£17.1million) as he has more than four years remaining on his contract.

Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli was hugely impressed by Martinez in pre-season after the two sides met in a friendly and he has been following him closely ever since.

Now a battle could ensue, although Benitez would always be seen as favourite given his continued close links with his homeland.

Liverpool are also known to have been impressed by Martinez's team-mate Fernando Amorebieta and a double bid could yet be a possibility.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...886103,00.html

[Shaggy]

This is seriously uncanny.

Last night, Eduardo Macia completed his scouting mission in Spain and reported back to me, the manager, with just four TOP CLASS finds.

Sergio Aguero, David Villa, David Silva and, yup you guessed it, Javi Martinez.

[The incredible igor]

This is seriously uncanny.

Last night, Eduardo Macia completed his scouting mission in Spain and reported back to me, the manager, with just four TOP CLASS finds.

Sergio Aguero, David Villa, David Silva and, yup you guessed it, Javi Martinez.

any one see aguero and torres play together at atletico? how did they get on?

[AFII]

any one see aguero and torres play together at atletico? how did they get on?

They didn't play that much together upfront, only a few games. Torres mostly played out wide when Aguero played.

[Maestro]

1.90m?? That's ****ing massive for a midfielder!!

[The incredible igor]

They didn't play that much together upfront, only a few games. Torres mostly played out wide when Aguero played.

screw that then, go for villa (but don't sell crouch)

[Shaggy]

1.90m?? That's ****ing massive for a midfielder!!

What's that in real money? About six foot five?

[AFII]

What's that in real money? About six foot five?

Around £84k/cm.

[Shaggy]

Around £84k/cm.

Just looked it up, apparently it's just under 6'3".

[tommyg]

What's that in real money? About six foot five?

LOL!

about 6'1

[Shaggy]

Metres to feet and inches converter:

http://www.cosmostrack.org/2005/FromMetersToFeetInches.pdf