How much will Man Utd pay for Lisandro Martinez?
Stuart Telford
- 14 Jul 2022 08:54 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United are closing in on the signing Lisandro Martinez from Ajax. How much will the Argentina centre-back cost?
United were frustrated in their attempts to sign Martinez's Ajax team-mate Jurrien Timber, with former Red Devils' manager Louis van Gaal, now Netherlands coach, telling him a move to Manchester could jeopardise his World Cup spot.
Arsenal also had a long-held interest in Martinez, but it appears the chance to work under Erik ten Hag again - the pair won four major honours in three years together in Amsterdam - has proven too good to turn down.
Malacia ☑️
Martinez 🔜https://t.co/Aps4PasVGx— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) July 5, 2022
Dutch daily De Telegraaf report that United and Ajax met again on Wednesday, and are closer than ever to agreeing on terms.
Close to €55 million
"Lisandro Martinez is one step closer to Manchester United," they wrote. "The top English club approached an agreement with Ajax in an hour-long meeting in Amsterdam on Wednesday about the transfer fee for the Argentine defender, which will come out, including bonuses, close to €55 million.
"This is reported by sources close to the negotiations. Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper and Ajax director Edwin van der Sar pushed the transfer in the right direction."
Martinez would be United's second signing of the summer, following the €15m acquisition of Netherlands left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord. Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic have left the club for Juventus and Roma respectively, meanwhile.
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How good is Martinez?
Martinez joined Ajax from Defensa y Justicia in 2019 having failed to break into the first team at his first club, Newell's Old Boys. He was soon making up for lost time, though, and earned his first Argentina cap two months before joining Ajax.
Relatively short for a centre-back at 5'9", Martinez more than makes up for his relative lack of stature with his performances. Last season in the Dutch Eredivisie he ranked in the 99th percentile league-wide for tackles, progressive passes and shot-creating actions, and United have secured a special player.
