TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
The current 15-game goal-scoring streak by Atlanta United star forward Josef Martinez, which ranks second in the world record books only to Lionel Messi's 21-match streak in 2013, is garnering attention overseas.
According to a report in English outlet Chronicle Live, Premier League side Newcastle United are keeping tabs on the 26-year-old Martinez, who broke the MLS record for goals in a season in 2018 with 31 tallies.
The article indicates that the Magpies have continued to monitor Atlanta United matches since acquiring Martinez's former teammate Miguel Almiron for a club record fee in January 2019 and Martinez is reported to be "on a substantial list of possible targets ahead of the January window" by Chronicle Live reporter Lee Ryder.
Almiron and Martinez formed a formidable attacking partnership on their way to leading Atlanta to the 2018 MLS Cup title. But while the 25-year-old Almiron has yet to score for Newcastle in 15 league appearances since his move, Martinez has continued to rack up the goals in 2019 -- he has 26 goals with four regular season matches left to play.
Although last year rumors emerged of interest from the likes of Club America and Everton, Atlanta United locked up the Venezuelan international striker to a 5-year contract in January 2019 with Martinez making clear his preference:
“For me, this is my Barcelona or my Real Madrid," Martinez said at the time of his contract extension. “I'm not worried about the money. If I was, I'd go play in China. That's not why I chose here [Atlanta]. It's because of the affection and the care that everyone has shown me from both the club and the city. That's what's important.”
