Manchester United are battling it out on two fronts in the transfer market. The Red Devils are involved in transfer tussles with Arsenal for centre-back Lisandro Martinez and AFC Ajax for striker Brian Brobbey.
Old Trafford is Lisandro Martinez’s preferred destination this summer, reports Gaston Edul of TyC Sports. Arsenal are heavily linked with the Argentinian defender as well, but due to the appointment of ten Hag at United, the player currently would prefer a move there should the two clubs have a bid accepted by Ajax.
Martinez, who joined the Amsterdam club in 2019 from Defensa y Justicia, nailed down a starting role in the first team under Ten Hag – making 120 appearances across three seasons.
According to Telegraaf, meanwhile, Manchester United have presented Ajax with an improved 50 million euro bid, including bonuses. Martinez is considered a priority target by ten Hag, with the club pressing on to sign him this summer even after having their initial approach turned down. While the Red Devils, by all accounts, are leading the race to sign the 24-year-old, he hasn’t turned down Arsenal’s proposal completely – as of yet.
Furthermore, German publication BILD claims that United are also keen on signing RB Leipzig forward Brian Brobbey this summer. The 20-year-old Dutchman spent the last half-season on loan at his boyhood club Ajax, whom he left six months prior upon the expiration of his contract to sign for Leipzig.
The striker did not score a single goal for the German giants in 14 appearances, but his record at Ajax is much more promising; across two short spells at the club, Brobbey has scored 13 goals in 32 appearances.
Rumours claim that Ajax will attempt to re-sign Brobbey permanently this summer after selling starting striker Sebastien Haller to Borussia Dortmund earlier in the window. However, Manchester United, too, are monitoring the situation and could challenge the Dutch champions for the 15 million euros-worth forward.
Manchester United have signed just one player so far this summer; the club confirmed the arrival of left-back Tyrell Malacia in a 15 million pound deal after swooping ahead of Lyon at the last second to secure the deal.
