Man United ready to sign Ajax's Lisandro Martinez

Ajax and Manchester United have agreed for Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez to join Manchester United, the club announced on Sunday.

Martinez will agree to a five-year contract at Old Trafford, where he will work with former manager Erik ten Hag. The original value of the agreement is €57.37 million, but several factors might push it up to €67.37 million. A medical exam is required before the relocation.

“Manchester United is thrilled to announce the club has achieved agreement with Ajax for the signing of Argentine international defender Lisandro Martinez, subject to medical approval, completion of player agreements, and UK visa procedures,” the club’s statement said.

The 24-year-old was eager to join the Premier League, with United being his first choice among clubs. According to sources, a breakthrough had been reached, and Martinez had turned down Arsenal’s desire.

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Martinez has the versatility to play midfield and defense, two positions on the team that Ten Hag is eager to bolster. After joining the team in 2019, Martinez made 118 appearances for the Dutch champions. He is Ten Hag’s third acquisition of the summer after Christian Eriksen, who spent the second part of the previous campaign at Brentford, went to Old Trafford, and Tyrell Malacia, who arrived from Feyenoord.

United will continue their efforts to get Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona after completing a deal for Martinez. However, sources informed ESPN that De Jong still has to be persuaded to transfer.

United is still confident that the Dutch international is open to joining the team. However, reports claim that his agents are still attempting to persuade Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain to enter the race.

De Jong prefers to stay at Camp Nou despite Barcelona’s suggestion that he must go to aid the team with its financial problems, although he would instead join a Champions League team if he must leave. There is also the matter of Barcelona owing De Jong salaries totaling more than €20 million.