Ajax Say United Will Have to Pay More For Ten Hag Target Martinez

Although Manchester United have met Ajax’s initial €50 million valuation for defender Lisandro Martinez, the Dutch side are saying that the Argentine’s departure is still out of the question, according to reports. 

De Telegraaf’s Mike Verweij has been the chief reporter for all the inside stories with Dutch related transfers this summer and it was Verweij who initially reported that Ajax slapped a €50 million price tag on Martinez amid interest from United and Arsenal. 

The player was torn for a decision for some time before eventually opting for the Red side of Manchester last night, according to reports from Argentina. This resulted in United officially matching Ajax’s valuation for the defender. 

Verweij reported United’s bid along with the news that Ajax’s board would get together today in order to make a decision about whether they can afford to refuse United’s proposal. 

Today, Veweij’s report on Dutch television stated: “Ajax are still saying that a departure of Lisandro Martinez is out of the question, even for Manchester United’s current bid of €50m – so they will have to go even higher.” 

Lisandro Martinez of Ajax. (Alamy)

It is said that Ajax are looking for the €50 million to be a guaranteed sum rather than the €45 million + an additional €5 million in add-ons which United have reportedly offered. 

The journalist also added that Erik ten Hag should be wary of trying to poach too many players from his former employers in order not to damage the legacy he left behind at the club. Ten Hag won three straight Eredivisie titles and two domestic cups with Ajax and is yet to sign a single player from his former side. 

This leaves United in a bit of a predicament. United want to be the A-side in transfer negotiations and Ajax wanting to play cat and mouse may not go down well with the club’s hierarchy. 

On the other hand, the squad jetted off for the first leg of their pre-season tour today with the clock ticking against the board to deliver Ten Hag’s targets with enough time to prepare for the season, which officially starts in just over a month. 

As of today, United have only secured the services of left-back Tyrell Malacia and are awaiting the imminent arrival of playmaker Christian Eriksen – however multiple credible reports claim that the Reds are far from finished in the transfer window. Ten Hag still wants to bolster the squad in a number of positions.

Tyrell Malacia and Erik ten Hag. (Man Utd)

United have been in a summer-long pursuit of Frenkie De Jong – a deal that is looking more and more complicated to execute with every passing day due to a plethora of internal issues at Barcelona.

In addition, Samuel Luckurst of the Manchester Evening News reported that United are backing Ten Hag and his choices for the positions of need, with the Dutch boss wanting a new forward, right-back and centre-back in addition to the prospective signings of Eriksen and De Jong. 

Cristiano Ronaldo’s imminent departure has made the need for a new forward a more pressing issue than it was prior but perhaps it is a blessing in disguise as Ten Hag will be given the license to fully implement his philosophy on the squad with no players needing the system to be built around them.

20-year-old target man Brian Brobbey has emerged as a possible target for United with Ronaldo’s future in question, though some reports have suggested that the Reds were looking at the Dutch forwards situation regardless of what happens with their No. 7. 

It is evident that Ten Hag has a clear vision and plan for how he wants to go about his rebuild of United. It is now up to those above him to do their part and deliver the names off his wishlist. 

United’s organic pulling power and the manager’s name are doing a good job of turning players' heads, but the club have thus far struggled to get deals over the line. The Reds play their first preseason game next Tuesday against arch rivals Liverpool.

They then go on to play Melboune Victory, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in Australia before heading back to Europe to play Atletico Madrid in Oslo on 30 July and Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford the following day.

The competitive season then kicks off with the Premier League opening fixtures the following weekend, with Manchester United facing Brighton & Hove Albion on 7 August.