Arsenal Table Second Bid For Lisandro Martinez

According to the very reliable Mike Verweij of the Dutch newspaper Telegraaf, Arsenal have tabled a second bid for Ajax centre-back Lisandro Martinez.

Verweij claims the bid is worth up to €40m, including bonuses.

However, Ajax are holding out for €50m guaranteed, as they attempt to keep the Argentine.

Verweij's report also includes a point which Arsenal fans will take as a boost.

He questions whether Arsenal's second offer is causing Ajax to doubt, and goes on to claim the Gunners will assume their new bid will make the transfer at least negotiable.

Arsenal fans will be pleased to hear this as the suggestion is that Arsenal will eventually succeed, if they keep pushing for Martinez.

David Ornstein of the Athletic first reported Arsenal's first bid for the 24-year-old, claiming Martinez is the club's top defensive target this Summer.

The Argentine is extremely versatile and could theoretically cover multiple positions for Mikel Arteta.

Left centre-back, left-back and defensive-midfield are all positions in which Martinez has experience in and could play.

With Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney especially prone to injuries, this cover could prove invaluable to Arsenal.

The defender was key in Ajax's title-winning season, winning their player of the year award.

He is not your typical centre-back, standing at just five foot nine inches.

However, what he lacks in height, he makes up for in intelligence and tenacity.

Martinez can often be seen flying into challenges to win the ball and using his strength to shrug off attackers. So much so, he is known as 'the butcher' by Ajax fans.

Despite his height, he is very good in the air. In fact, he is among the best in the air in the Eredivise.

On the ball, he is among the best in not just the Eredivise, but all of Europe.

He made 13.4 passes into the final third per 90 in the league last season, a number only bested by Trent Alexander Arnold and Daley Blind for defenders.

If Arsenal can get this deal done, they will be adding a tremendous amount of depth and quality to their back-line.

The Gunners should hope their most recent bid will be enough to start negotiations for Martinez as they push on in what is looking to be an extremely exciting transfer window for Arsenal fans.