Arsenal target Lisandro Martinez is ready to force a move to Manchester United in to reunite with former Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag this summer.
According to Daily Mirror, Manchester United remain keen on securing the services of Martinez, but the move has stalled a bit over the last few days. The Ajax ace has emerged as a transfer priority for the Red Devils this summer, with Erik ten Hag particularly keen on sealing a reunion with the defender ahead of the new season.
The player, meanwhile, is also said to have declared his desire to join his former boss, ten Hag’s, project at Manchester United ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal and is pushing Ajax to reach an agreement with the Red Devils within the next 48 hours.
Last week, Manchester United were on the cusp of finalising the move to secure the Argentine defender’s signature. But it appears the club have faced complications since, with Ajax now holding out for a higher sum for Martinez, who has racked up 120 competitive appearances during his three years in Amsterdam.
Furthermore, with Arsenal also interested in Martinez, Ajax are hoping to earn a fortune out of a bidding war between the Gunners and Manchester United for the 24-year-old’s signature. But it now seems that Manchester United have stolen the march on their Premier League rivals in the race to sign Martinez.
Manchester United are also being given a further boost by Martinez’s camp, with the Argentine defender “ready to go to war” with Ajax to get his dream move. Also, the South American is losing patience and will make a fuss about it by refusing to attend the ongoing pre-season training with the Dutch giants to force a move away.
Manchester United’s interest in Martinez stems from the defensive woes last season when they conceded a record-breaking number of goals. They have also been crying out for an assured defensive presence in front of their backline for a number of years now, with Fred and Scott McTominay not suitable for that role.
In Martinez, Manchester United would be getting their hands on a tenacious, ball-playing defender who has vast experience of playing under ten Hag — being a prominent member of his Ajax team last season — and is tremendously versatile, slotting comfortably all across the backline.
Manchester United are also keen on signing Martinez’s Ajax teammate and Brazilian international, Antony, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo wanting to leave the club. But there appears to be no breakthrough in negotiations between the two clubs yet.
As for Arsenal’s interest in Martinez, Mikel Arteta had viewed the 24-year-old as the ideal candidate to provide cover for first-choice centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes as well as left-back Kieran Tierney, who missed the crucial run-in late towards the end of last season with a serious injury.
But the Argentine international is apparently not keen on being the second fiddle in a World Cup year, and Arsenal will now have to look at alternative targets, with Benfica’s Grimaldo on their radar.