Arsenal want Lisandro Martinez and think they can beat Manchester United whilst they are focused on signing Tyrell Malacia and Frenkie de Jong.
The Gunners are trying to bring in a versatile left-sided defender to offer more cover for Mikel Arteta.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Kieran Tierney are quality starters at left-sided centre back and left back respectively.
Yet using backups like Nuno Tavares or Pablo Mari – Arsenal’s naturally left-footed options – could land Arteta in trouble.
A player who can cover both roles would be ideal and Arsenal have identified Martinez as their man.
ARSENAL WANT LISANDRO MARTINEZ
Ajax star Martinez has become a man in demand over the last couple of weeks.
Arsenal are understood to have offered £26million for Martinez whilst reports in the Netherlands earlier this week claimed that Arsenal have increased their bid to £34million.
That is still shy of Ajax’s asking price with some reports claiming that Martinez will cost between £45million and £50million.
Having already lost Andre Onana, Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch, Ajax understandably don’t want to lose more important players.
Martinez won Ajax’s Player of the Year award so you can hardly bales them for wanting a big fee for the Argentinian.
Whilst a little small at 5ft 9in, Martinez is outstanding on the ball and can play at centre back, left back and in holding midfield.
That’s ideal for Arsenal but Manchester United – managed by Martinez’s former Ajax boss Ten Hag – are also showing a keen interest.
The Telegraph now claim that Arsenal are pushing hard to get Martinez signed quickly because they think United are focused on other players right now.
Feyenoord left back Tyrell Malacia and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong are the top targets for Ten Hag, so United are pushing for them.
Martinez would seemingly be the next target after those two, but that means Arsenal are trying to get in before United fully turn their attention to him.
That means Arsenal will face a busy few days trying to tempt Ajax into a sale, and they will likely have to pay big money.
