Man Utd set to sell THREE centre-backs after Lisandro Martinez arrival as they close in on £46m transfer
MANCHESTER UNITED will reportedly sell THREE centre-backs as they close in on signing Lisandro Martinez for £46million.
The 24-year-old Argentine spent three seasons playing under new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax before the manager’s arrival at Old Trafford.
SunSport understands that United are close to finalising Martinez’s transfer as the Premier League giants are thought to have made a breakthrough in their talks with Ajax.
It comes after they previously offered £42m for the defender – just shy of the Dutch side’s £46m asking price – which has now been met.
The Daily Mirror states that the South American’s arrival will result in three other defenders heading out of the exit door.
They claim that Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones will all be sold “to ensure Ten Hag’s squad is not overloaded with centre-backs” this term.
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United skipper Harry Maguire, French World Cup winner Raphael Varane and Swedish international Victor Lindelof will all be battling it out with Martinez for a place in the backline.
Ivory Coast star Bailly, 28, joined from Villarreal back in 2016 but has been restricted to just 70 Premier League appearances since due to injury and form.
England international Jones, 30, has been at Old Trafford for 11 years but he has only just returned from his own long-term injury.
Tuanzebe, 24, a former Three Lions youth international who has been forced to leave the club’s pre-season tour, came through United’s academy but has struggled to make the breakthrough into a first-team regular.
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The capture of Martinez would be the second signing of Ten Hag’s tenure following left-back Tyrell Malacia’s £13m move from Feyenoord.
United, who are also looking to seal the signing of midfielder Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona this week, kicked off life under Ten Hag with a 4-0 friendly win over rivals Liverpool in Thailand yesterday.
Goals from Jadon Sancho, Fred, Anthony Martial and Facundo Pellistri ensured the new manager got off to a winning start.