Man United close in on Martinez as Ajax accept €50m bid

Manchester United are finally closing in on a deal for ascending center-back Lisandro Martinez, as they have had a €50m bid accepted by Ajax. This has been in the works since the start of the transfer window, as new United manager Erik ten Hag was adamant in bringing over the star defender from his former club. Martinez is expected to be a key part of the United defense and ten Hag’s overall plan.

Martinez is a very skilled Argentinian center-back who averaged more passes per game in the Eredivisie than any other player last season. Considering how far back Martinez plays, that is an impressive stat. Martinez has been panned for his small stature as he is only 5’9″, but he is actually very comfortable heading the ball. Last season, he won 71% of his aerial duels. Among United players, only center-back Harry Maguire had a better percentage.


It is expected Maguire and Martinez will become Manchester United’s first-choice defensive pairing next season. United were frequently let down by their defense last year, and it felt like a waste of all the offensive talent they possessed.

Martinez has been a highly coveted transfer amongst Premier League teams this summer, with Arsenal also expressing interest. His technical ability made him a priority for many teams, and now it looks like United will be the ones reaping the rewards. Martinez is only 24 and can play in a variety of defensive positions, so United will be hoping he is a long-term player.

Of course, United still have a lot to figure out in this transfer window. They have to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer drama, while they are also working on bringing Frenkie De Jong to Old Trafford as a replacement for Paul Pogba. After a fifth-place finish in the Premier League last year, United will expect to perform better in this coming season and Martinez should be a big part of that.

Manchester United currently have the fifth-shortest odds to win the Premier League at +2800 with Bovada, and while they have a small chance to make a title run, we aren’t counting on it. They have a talented team, but last year it looked more like a group of individuals who didn’t know how to play together. Of course, the new manager should come in and help that problem, but it doesn’t appear like it will be enough to make a real title run. That being said, Martinez should make this team better, and while United may not win the title, they should be back in a Champions League qualifying spot.

Most soccer betting sites have the Red Devils around +125 to finish top four and qualify for the Champions League. That is a pretty good value bet. United have too much talent to keep failing, and they should be better in the coming season. Martinez should be a big part of this improvement.

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