Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez has been linked with a move to Manchester United in recent weeks.
The 24-year-old has established himself as a key player for Ajax since joining the club in 2019. He played 37 games last season and helped the Dutch outfit win the league title.
The newly appointed Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag knows all about the Argentine, having worked with him in Amsterdam in recent years.
Ten Hag wants to improve his defensive options, and the 24-year-old seems like a quality long-term prospect.
The centre-back is physically dominant, and he should be able to settle into English football with ease. However, his short frame leaves him vulnerable in the air.
ESPN are claiming that a deal is close to being agreed between Ajax and Manchester United for the player.
Manchester United were quite poor defensively last season, and the signing of Raphael Varane did not help. The likes of Harry Maguire underperformed as well.
Meanwhile, Eric Bailly has been linked with an exit this summer. It is clear that United need to sign a defender.
Therefore the interest in Martinez seems reasonable.
Having played under Ten Hag, he is well versed with his system and playing philosophy. It is fair to assume that the defender will be expected to make an immediate impact now.
The player has been linked with clubs like Arsenal as well, but it seems that United have managed to fend off the competition from their rivals.
Only time will tell whether he can sort out Ten Hag’s leaky defence next year.
