It seems that Manchester United have chosen to pursue Lisandro Martinez over Antony, with the latter’s price tag an issue for the Reds.
It was always going to be difficult to persuade Dutch champions Ajax to allow two of their star players to join Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
They slapped large fees on both Martinez and Antony, which means that United would likely have to decide between the pair.
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Both would help solve issues at the Theatre of Dreams. The Brazilian winger would slot in on the right-side which United wide men seem allergic to.
Meanwhile, Martinez would strengthen the backline, which includes an out-of-form Harry Maguire and an injury prone Raphaël Varane, however, more interestingly he could help plug a gap in the midfield if needed.
The Argentine operated as a defensive midfielder under Ten Hag in 2019/20 but has moved back into the defence since then.
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He could be a multi-purpose addition, depending on whether United can afford to bring in Christian Eriksen and another defensive minded midfielder alongside him. Outgoings would likely be key in this.
While both players could give United some needed strength and quality, new reports suggest that a decision has been made to which player they go for this summer.
With the signing of Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia imminent, United are turning their focus to Martinez next, according to Paul Hirst of The Times.
The 24-year-old is also attracting attention from Premier League competitors Arsenal.
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The Gunners have made an offer of £34 million for the defender.
However, that is £9m short of Ajax’s valuation of their player, and this could give United a chance to swoop in for a deal.
The aforementioned report adds that Ten Hag’s side have asked the Eredivisie holders to keep them updated on the situation with Martinez, as they discuss how much to offer for the player.
It is also mentioned that United are unlikely to match Ajax’s valuation of £70m for the Brazilian Antony, even though Ten Hag is intent on strengthening his frontline.
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This indicates that the preferred deal for United and Ten Hag is Martinez, who is at a lower cost and could solve a more pressing issue.
The Reds could look for a different target on the right flank, or they could wait out Ajax and see if they lower their proposed fee for Antony.
The winger is keen for an Old Trafford move, and that could potentially mean that he pushes for a move as the window progresses, but that is an unknown entity.
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Ultimately, focusing on Martinez next makes sense for United — whether he will be used to bolster the defence or midfield (or both) is yet to be discovered.
Manchester United’s transfer window is finally underway.
Frenkie de Jong and Tyrell Malacia are looking likely to be completed before the team jet off to their first pre-season destination on July 8.
The Reds will face Liverpool in their first fixture on the tour on July 12.
Topics: Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Transfers, Ajax, Premier League, Football, Erik Ten Hag, Antony
Cain Smith