For all of Manchester United's problems last season, it was their lack of a defensive-minded midfielder that was by far and away their biggest.
United invested heavily in their squad last summer, strengthening their central-defensive and wide options with the additions of Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, respectively. That meant that there was little room left in the budget to bring in a world-class holding midfielder as well.
Although hindsight can often prove to be a wonderful thing in football, United must have regretted not bringing in a player of that profile. It was a problem that plagued them throughout the campaign and the need to sign a defensive midfielder this summer was accepted a long time before even Ralf Rangnick had become a familiar name around Manchester.
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Yet here we are, more three weeks into the summer transfer window, and United are focusing all of their energy on trying to recruit a midfielder who goes against the grain of what most believed was required — in the shape of Frenkie de Jong. While the Dutchman would significantly strengthen United's midfield options and give them a degree of control in matches — something else they desperately lacked last season — he is not the type of player that will sit deep, do the dirty side of the game and fly into challenges like Declan Rice or Fabinho.
Instead, he is someone that wants to get on the ball, dictate games, drive forward and look to supply those who will then provide the assists for the strikers. Deploying him as a destroying holding midfielder would be a complete waste of his talent.
That is why United might have found exactly what they are looking for in Lisandro Martinez. United have submitted a £37million offer for the 24-year-old and are locked in a head-to-head battle with Arsenal for his signature.
However, it remains unclear where United would like Martinez to slot in. The Argentine is very versatile, capable of playing at centre-back, left-back and in defensive-midfield, meaning Erik ten Hag, who knows Martinez inside out from his time in charge of Ajax, has the luxury of being able to deploy him in up to three different positions.
But considering United are closing in on the signing of Tyrell Malacia, it is unlikely that Martinez would be added to the squad with a view to playing at left-back. That means it will be one of two roles for him. United want to sign a centre-back, meaning Martinez could be the man for that particular scouting mission, but would he better off in a holding-midfield berth?
Considering United's defence was exposed to so many dangerous attacks so often last season, you could argue that someone of Martinez's profile is what is needed to reduce the pressure on the back-four, opposed to him being tasked with trying to stop an attack once it has got that little bit closer to United's goal. He is a player that wears his heart on his sleeve and thrives on doing the ugly side of the game.
Outlining his main qualities, Martinez recently said: "I am called the Canisero — the Butcher of Amsterdam. We Argentines do everything with passion — and when I go out on the pitch I fight for every ball.
"If I have to step over dead bodies I do it. I want to win every 50-50 situation because I know that I am fighting for food for every member of my family and for my friends. That is the feeling I have — and every Argentinian has. It is the kind of motivation I cannot explain."
With that sentiment in mind, Martinez might well be the ideal man to take on the role that United desperately need filling. He may not be as experienced in defensive-midfield as he is at centre-back, but having someone who is ready to roll up their sleeves, fight, show enormous levels of character and give everything for the badge is what United need. They have been caught out far too many times being too soft and vulnerable in that area.
Martinez, with his Argentinian spirit and determination, could be exactly what United have been crying out for.
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