Pranav Kannan
Transfer News: Manchester United set to join Arsenal in Lisandro Martinez race
According to Sky Sports (h/t the Sun), Manchester United are set to join Arsenal in the race for Argentinian centre-back Lisandro Martinez from Ajax.
Martinez joined Ajax from Defensa in 2019 and has since then gone on to establish himself as one of the best young centre-backs in Europe. Highly rated for a few years now, the Argentinian has been linked with a move away from Ajax for quite some time now.
The talented 24-year-old has played 36 times for Erik ten Hag’s Ajax side this season scoring one goal and providing four assists across all competitions. With a contract until 2025 for the player, the Amsterdam club will be in no rush to sell their star man.
Arsenal have been interested in the player for quite some time now and have apparently even had a £25million bid rejected for the player. However, Man United are set to join the Gunners in the pursuit of the Argentinian international.
Familiarity?
Lisandro Martinez is not the first Ajax player to be linked with the Red Devils ahead of next season and it comes as absolutely no surprise considering that ten Hag is taking over at the helm next season.
One thing that favours Martinez’s cause a lot other than his familiarity with the Dutch tactician is the kind of versatility that he offers to the team. The 24-year-old can play as a centre-back, left-back and even as a defensive midfielder.
Such kind of players are of great utility to the team considering the fact that they can cover different positions when the need arises. Lisandro Martinez is a solid player and United must try to sign him if possible.
In Raphael Varane, we have a world-class defender in our ranks but the same cannot be said about our other options. Harry Maguire has been disappointing, especially in his last season at Old Trafford whilst Victor Lindelof hasn’t convinced our managers to make him a pinned starter for us, although he still has quality.
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Regardless, a new defender would be ideal for ten Hag and Lisandro Martinez is a great option. It remains to be seen if we manage to pull off a deal for him.
Just like Arsenal, we cannot offer UEFA Champions League football to the Argentine- something he will get at Ajax. But at Man Utd, he has the chance to become one of the players that helps ten Hag revitalise the club.
