Gelson Martins’ agent has confirmed that his client is not joining SL Benfica, amid reports that the player is leaving Sporting CP on a free transfer this summer.

Earlier this month, Sporting confirmed that Martins had requested the termination of his playing contract with the club, invoking ‘just cause’ as a result of recent attacks on the training ground. There’s no official word yet over whether Sporting will accept that request, but the player’s agent has ruled one club out of the race for his client.

“Being the agent of Gelson Martins, I have as a top priority his tranquility, and maximum concentration to be able to do what he knows, professional football,” Ulisses Santos wrote on Facebook.

“For this reason, and considering the sports media agenda has been very busy around his future, I come to inform you that Martins’ next club will not be SL Benfica.”

Understandably, links to a rival club in the Portuguese league are having a negative effect on the player’s ability to focus. We’ve seen first hand the effect on Alexis Sanchez’s form when he was linked with Manchester City and Manchester United during his Arsenal contract dispute.

From the way the agent is talking about “Martins’ next club” though, it seems fair to assume they think there’s at least a good chance he’ll get his way and move on from Sporting this summer.

Arsenal reportedly made two bids for the player earlier in the summer. The chance to pick him up for free is unlikely to be one they ignore. With 26 goal contributions in 52 games from the wing last season, Martins would be a strong addition to the Arsenal squad. Let’s see if they can complete the deal.