Arsenal have reportedly enquired about Lisandro Martinez, as Mikel Arteta could be in the market for a left-footed centre-back.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal are keen on recruiting a left-footed centre-back, with Lisandro Martinez emerging on their radar. The Gunners have made enquiries regarding the 24-year-old Argentine international, who could consider his options if an offer arrives in this window.
Arsenal are accelerating their transfer activity, and in the last few days, they have made headway into some important deals. Mikel Arteta is keen to put the disappointing fifth-placed finish behind him and continue his squad rebuild, with the Spaniard seeking players in several positions.
A striker is considered a priority, with Gabriel Jesus their primary target, as they close in on reaching an agreement with Manchester City. Meanwhile, a central midfielder and a wide forward are also required at Arsenal.
The north Londoners have made a surprise swop for Fabio Vieira this week, with FC Porto confirming an agreement with Arsenal. While the Portuguese midfielder fits into the squad in many ways, Youri Tielemans is still Arsenal’s primary midfield target.
The Gunners were not expected to seek central defensive reinforcements. From the outside, Arsenal currently seem to have four top-quality centre-backs, and realistically, that would be considered enough to see a season through.
However, The Athletic claims that Arsenal have enquired about Lisandro Martinez. The 24-year-old Ajax defender has put in some important performances for the Dutch side, and at the international level with Argentina, which continues to attract the interest of big clubs, including Barcelona.
The idea behind Arsenal’s interest is to add a new left-footed centre-back to their ranks. They have William Saliba, who has played on the left side of the pitch, with the Frenchman deciding to stay put at the Emirates for the foreseeable future. Ben White, Rob Holding, and even Takehiro Tomiyasu could fill the void if necessary.
The aforementioned names are all right-footed, and Arsenal only have Gabriel Magalhaes as a natural left-footed centre-back in their ranks. Arteta thus wants to add competition for the Brazilian defender, and Martinez could be a smart buy.
Martinez is known for his aggressive style on the pitch and the ability to play in multiple positions. That may not be why Arteta likes the 24-year-old, considering his ability as a central defender. The Argentine international can also slot in as a left-back or even as a defensive midfielder if needed.
Whether Arsenal move further by making a suitable offer remains to be seen. As for the player, he might be tempted by the prospect of joining a big team to take his career to the next level, although Ajax could demand a sizeable fee considering his contract runs until 2025.
