Manchester United have made a €43million (£37m) offer for Ajax centre-back Lisandro Martinez as they continue to pursue targets familiar to Erik ten Hag.
United have turned to Martinez having initially prioritised his Ajax teammate Jurrien Timber, who is now expected to stay with the Dutch champions.
Martinez, 24, is a left-footed centre-back who also played as a defensive midfielder for Ten Hag at Ajax in 2019-20. United had shortlisted Villarreal defender Pau Torres and David Carmo of Braga but Ten Hag favours options affiliated with Ajax or Dutch football.
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The Manchester Evening News reported in midweek United had lined up Martinez, having agreed fees for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia.
United sources say the club expects to complete the signing of Malacia, 22, "in the coming days" after an issue regarding his representation was resolved.
Malacia and De Jong are nearing the end of their three-week break after involvement in the Nations League fixtures with the Netherlands last month. United are aiming to finalise the prospective signings of both players before they fly to Bangkok for the start of their pre-season tour on Friday.
United already have a bloated central defensive department and are open to selling Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe. Club sources initially expected a sale at centre-back would trigger a move for a replacement, mindful of United's infamous struggle to sell players in recent years.
Arsenal's interest in Martinez is likely to have spurred United into moving for the Argentina international, having hijacked Lyon's move for Malacia.
Ten Hag also wants Ajax winger Antony and former Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen. Ajax have sold Ryan Gravenberch to Bayern Munich, who have also acquired Noussair Mazraoui after his contract expired with the Amsterdam club.
United football director John Murtough has not vetoed Ten Hag's suggested targets despite the gulf between the Eredivisie and the Premier League. Former United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward privately cited Daley Blind while deriding Louis van Gaal's disastrous recruitment hit-rate while Dutchmen Memphis Depay and Donny van de Beek secured permanent and loan transfers 18 months after they joined United.
The departures of Marcel Bout and Jim Lawlor - scouts with the highest-profile titles - the streamlining of the scouting department and Ten Hag's official start date in late May have led to United working off Ten Hag's wish list.
Murtough appointed Ten Hag and is 16 months into his tenure as football director.
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