Those willing to engage in a dash of gallows humour may point out that if Barcelona starlet Gerard Martin thought his week could not get any worse, now he is being linked with a move to West Ham United.
The young left-back dislocated a bone in his hand as Spain kicked off their Under-21 European Championship campaign with a dramatic 3-2 win over Slovakia on Wednesday.
Gerard Martin’s tournament is over, then, before it ever really began. The La Liga champion heads back to Catalonia for immediate surgery.
His hopes of joining Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Fabian Ruiz and Thiago Alcantara in a long list of Spanish stars with an U21 Euro winners medal on their CV going up in smoke, as a result.
A West Ham United fanbase already driven to insanity by a non-existent start to the summer window then, may quip with a wry smile that being linked with the London Stadium outfit is now only the second-worst thing to happen to Gerard Martin this week.
Barcelona left-back Gerard Martin reacts to West Ham United links
Spanish publication Sport claim that Wolverhampton Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth have identified Gerard Martin as a potential replacement for the departed Rayan Ait-Nouri or Milos Kerkez.
Ait-Nouri completed his switch to Manchester City a few days ago. Kerkez, meanwhile, is expected at Anfield after Liverpool seal a British-record deal for Florian Wirtz.
Sport add that Barcelona may be willing to consider offers in the region of £10 million.
West Ham appear reluctant to spend until they first raise funds via a sale or two. But Gerard Martin’s 12 million euro asking price opens the door for a high-quality left-back to arrive at the London Stadium, in a deal which would take a polite nibble rather than a shark-sized chunk out of a limited summer budget.
Sempre Barca report that capital city neighbours Crystal Palace and West Ham have joined Wolves and Bournemouth in considering the 23-year-old La Masia graduate.
Though speaking to Jijantes on his way back to Barcelona – his arm in a sling yet able to put a brave face on his Euro-killing injury – Martin insists that, if those reported Premier League suitors have indeed expressed their interest, that is not something the player himself is aware of.
“I don’t know, these are things that come out [in the media],” Martin smiles. “I am happy with my season, and focused on Barcelona. I’m not thinking about anything else.
“I’m relaxed.
Barcelona eye Bayer Leverkusen raid as Emerson Palmieri faces West Ham exit
Gerard Martin signed a new three-year contract at Barcelona as recently as January. He made a colossal 42 appearances during his breakout season under Hansi Flick, too.
Of his six assists, two came during that madcap 4-3 defeat by Inter Milan in an instant Champions League classic.
Barcelona do appear intent on signing a more experienced left-back in his place, however. Another La Masia graduate in Alejandro Grimaldo – a massive part of Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga-winning success under Xabi Alonso – is reportedly an option, alongside Caio Henrique of Monaco.
Martin is the man most likely to make way at the Camp Nou as well, ahead of Barca teammate Alejandro Balde.
Back at West Ham, Ollie Scarles may be the only senior left-back at Graham Potter’s disposal soon enough.
Scarles is keen to emulate the departing Aaron Cresswell and nail down a spot in the West Ham XI. Meanwhile, Emerson Palmieri could return to Italy with Lazio interested in bringing the former Roma favourite back to the familiar surroundings of the Stadio Olimpico.
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