Report: Atletico Madrid prepared to pay €35 million for Jackson Martinez

Atletico Madrid are reportedly willing to hijack Jackson Martinez's move to AC Milan.

According to Spanish daily AS, Atleti have entered the race to secure Martinez and are prepared to spend €35 million on the Colombian forward - a fee that would also cover the player's buyout clause.

FC Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa indicated last week that his club had all but completed a €35-million deal that would see Milan land Martinez, but the 28-year-old striker then denied that a move to the San Siro was imminent, saying: "I'm as close to Milan as I am to other clubs."

Martinez, who notched 21 goals through 30 Liga Sagres appearances last season as well as another seven goals in the Champions League, would serve as a replacement for Mario Mandzukic at the Vicente Calderon, as Atleti reportedly reached an €18-million agreement with Juventus F.C. on Thursday for the transfer of the Croatian forward.