Manchester United and Arsenal have been battling it out for Lisandro Martínez. The Red Devils seem to have taken the lead over the Gunners by making an improved €50m offer to Ajax.
That’s according to De Telegraaf, who state the Eredivisie winners’ leaders, in consultation with their supervisory board, have a ‘crucial decision’ to make on Friday, whether or not to accept United’s new proposal.
Martínez’s situation is similar to David Neres’ case, when Chinese side Guangzhou FC offered €50m for the latter in 2019. The Amsterdam club rejected it, only to sell Neres to Shakhtar Donetsk for €15m in January.
If Ajax were to accept Manchester United’s €50m offer for the centre-back, they can use the money to sign his replacement. With the latest proposal, Erik ten Hag’s side have pushed Arsenal out of the race for the Argentina international.
The player wants to take the next step in his career by making a switch to England. For now, he has kept quiet, but De Telegraaf believe it could be ‘calm before the storm’, if Ajax continue to block his move to the Premier League.
Situación de Lisandro Martínez:
Arsenal apareció primero que Manchester Utd. Hizo la primera oferta formal. Ahí es cuando Lisandro decide dar el paso a la Premier pero se encontró con la postura difícil de Ajax.
En ese momento apareció Man Utd y el llamado de Ten Hag (sigue) pic.twitter.com/SxK7XiS6jI— Gastón Edul (@gastonedul) July 7, 2022
Back in Martínez’s home country, TyC Sports journalist Gastón Edul states the defender decided to move to England when Arsenal first made the offer for him. However, he found out Ajax were making it difficult for him to leave. Since then, United have appeared on the scene.
Edul adds ‘logically’, Martínez has the ‘tendency to go’ to United because of Ten Hag, who is currently in charge at Old Trafford.
