Arsenal are reportedly serious about their transfer pursuit of Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez, but Manchester United are supposedly “very, very confident” about winning the race for the Argentina international.
See the video clip below as Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports explains the current situation with Martinez, who was strongly targeted by the Gunners earlier in the summer, though Man Utd are now also very much in the mix and seem optimistic about reuniting him with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Jacobs notes that Martinez is rated very highly by Arsenal, who would sign him with the view of putting him in their starting XI, despite already having Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White and William Saliba in that department.
Still, United also need to strengthen at the back, with Martinez perhaps an ideal upgrade on the unconvincing Harry Maguire.
Jacobs suggests that Martinez might lean towards a move to the Red Devils due to knowing Ten Hag better, though it seems he’s also an admirer of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
It is impossible to imagine Lisandro Martinez in Arsenal’s first XI because regardless of position, Martinez in the first XI at Arsenal would involve displacing one of Arsenal’s core players.
If William Saliba is not going into the first XI after his previous loan performances and the year he had at Marseilles, it is impossible to imagine Martinez replacing either Ben White or Gabriel Magalhaes at the back.
Martinez also plays holding midfield, which would suggest he would replace Thomas Partey, which might be an upgrade.
Martinez at left back would mean displacing Kieran Tierney, who has been injured, so that’s possible, with Martinez keeping the position permanently if his performance matches or exceeds the Scotsman’s. .
I’m perplexed as to why Arteta wants to sign Lisandro Martinez yet we already have Gabriel, White and William Saliba. I think it would be shrewd to strengthen on midfield and the winger positions.