Arsenal will have to pay Gelson Martins £88m release clause if they want to sign him.

• Gelson Martins is considered one of the best talents to come from Sporting’s academy in years
• Arsenal had reportedly made a £79m offer for him and William Carvalho
• Sporting have now upped the price on Martins

In one of the more unusual transfer rumours this summer, Arsenal have been told to pay £88m for an unproven 22-year-old.

Arsenal had reportedly offered Sporting Lisbon £79m for both Gelson Martins and William Carvalho, with £53m of that said to be on Martins’ release clause.

However, according to latest reports, Sporting have the option of increasing that release clause to £88m whenever they want.

This seems both bizarre and mightily convenient for Sporting. It begs the question why a £53m release clause existed in the first place.

This seems to be a case of Arsenal’s name being used to make Sporting’s stance clear. The Gunners have other targets and won’t have the money to spend a further £80m on two players, nevermind £88m on just one.