Arsenal ready to raise £38m offer for Lisandro Martinez as they compete with Man United for defender

Arsenal are ready to raise their current £38million offer for Lisandro Martinez as they compete with Manchester United to sign the Ajax defender.   

United bid £38million on Friday with more guaranteed up front, while they also offer the chance to link up again with Erik ten Hag, who had a strong rapport with Martinez during his time in Amsterdam. 

The 24-year-old is valued at £43million by Ajax but has told the club that he wants to move to the Premier League. 

Arsenal are ready to raise their current £38million offer for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez

Martinez has kept a low profile so far out of respect to the reigning Eredivisie champions and their supporters as he is a popular figure at the club. 

However, at 24 he is determined to make the most of the opportunity that has arisen and wants Ajax to respect what he considers the gentleman’s agreement that was put in place when he signed a contract extension that he could leave should a big club make a substantial offer for him. 

The Argentine remains appreciative of the Dutch club after they brought him to Europe from Defensa y Justicia in 2017, but he believes the figures put forward represent a very good financial proposal for the club and he is excited by the chance to play in the Premier League. 

Martinez had a strong rapport with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag in his time at Ajax

The seven-cap Argentine centre-back can also fill in at full-back or in a defensive midfield role

Martinez has the spent the majority of his career as a centre-back, but can also fill in at full-back or in a defensive midfield role. 

He made 36 appearances in all competitions for Ajax last season but missed the final two months of the campaign due to a muscle injury. 

A seven-cap Argentina international, Martinez is not the tallest defender at 5ft 9in, but is excellent on the ball.