Manchester United transfer chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough are 'inter-railing around Europe' to conclude several transfers.
United CEO Arnold and football director Murtough left Barcelona on Wednesday after several days of trying to clinch a deal to sign Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The pair had jetted to the Catalan capital on Monday and despite reaching an agreement with the club, have yet to formalise the deal due to the player not yet agreeing to sign.
The club's focus has now shifted to a deal for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez, with United closing in on a £46million deal to sign the Argentine. The defender was identified as a potential target after missing out on his teammate Jurrien Timber. Arsenal had also been interested in Martinez but are now believed to be out of the running.
United boss Erik ten Hag has utilised his personal relationship with Martinez to convince him to join Old Trafford this summer and prioritise a move to United ahead of either staying with Ajax or joining the Gunners.
As detailed by the Manchester Evening News, Arnold and Murtough have gone to Amsterdam to conclude a deal for the defender after negotiating with Barcelona to sign De Jong. The report describes the duo as ‘inter-railing around Europe’ to ramp up the club’s transfer business.
Martinez starred under Ten Hag across three seasons at the Dutch club following a €7million move from Argentine outfit Defensa y Justicia. The new United boss believes he would enjoy similar success in the Premier League.
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Ajax have accepted they cannot keep hold of the Argentina international, who has told them of his desire to move to Old Trafford. The Dutch club are set to move for Mykola Matviyenko of Shakhtar Donetsk to replace Martinez.
Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof are the first-choice central defenders at Ten Hag’s disposal, while it is believed the club will listen to offers for Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe this summer as they look to slim down their squad further.
United have so far only made one transfer in this summer's window with the signing of full-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord but do have a verbal agreement in place to sign free agent Christian Eriksen on a three-year deal.
