Arsenal face competition from Everton and Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid for Uruguayan winger Federico Martinez.

The 21-year-old plays for Liverpool FC in Uruguay and has been compared to Argentine winger Angel Di Maria. According to The Sun, Arsenal have been monitoring the winger, but face stiff competition from Everton and Atletico Madrid.

They report that Everton are the favourites to sign him, as they’re keen to bring in young players who can be nurtured at Goodison Park. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, have a history of signing young players from South America.

Crucially for Arsenal and Everton, Martinez has a Spanish passport and will therefore be able to join an English club without needing a work permit. Arsenal have frequently struggled to secure work permits for players they’ve signed from the Americas or from Asia.

Joel Campbell, Carlos Vela, Samuel Galindo, Wellington Silva, Ryo Miyaichi and Takuma Asano are some of the players who were signed by Arsenal but spent most of their time away on loan due to not initially qualifying for work permits.

Should Arsenal sign Martinez, he’ll be able to play for the club straight away. However, given the number of wingers at the club at both senior and youth level, he would probably end up on loan somewhere anyway, in my opinion.