Arsenal and Manchester United want Lisandro Martinez – and both clubs have now held talks to try and sign the Ajax defender this summer.
Left-footed centre backs are wanted throughout the game right now, helping bring balance to build-up play from the back.
Sven Botman is set for a huge move to Newcastle United, and he will join another left-footed centre back in Dan Burn.
That illustrates the demand for these players, and Ajax star Martinez now looks to be at the centre of a real tug-of-war.
Arsenal and Manchester United want Lisandro Martinez
Reports last week suggested that Arsenal had offered €30million (£26milion) to sign Martinez from Ajax.
Yet claims from the Netherlands then suggested that Arsenal were backing away from Martinez and that Manchester United were keen.
You can see why both clubs fancy Martinez.
Arsenal want a defender who can cover at left-sided centre back and left back, with Martinez fitting the bill perfectly based on his time at Ajax.
United have appointed Erik ten Hag as their new boss and he oversaw Martinez’s development at Ajax, even calling him ‘excellent’.
There could now be a real battle between the two clubs as The Mirror claim that both Arsenal and United have met with Martinez’s representatives.
Martinez fancies a Premier League move and meetings were held with his agents in London in recent days.
Ajax want a huge fee of £42million though, which is much higher than either team had planned to pay.
The Argentina international won Ajax’s Player of the Year award this past season and they clearly want a huge fee as a result.
If Ajax stick to that price tag, a move to United seems a little more likely given that Arsenal would likely see Martinez as a squad player; paying £42million would be bold.
This transfer saga could go on a little while yet, with Arsenal and United both miles away from Ajax’s asking price.
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