Arsenal are reportedly prioritizing a move for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez after rejecting an initial £ 25million offer.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal’s priority is Martinez due to the 24-year-old’s ability to play as a center and left winger. Martinez is said to be interested in moving to the Emirates Stadium, and it is rumored that the Eredivisie champions have turned down a £ 25million bid.
Although the Gunners’ initial offer was rejected by the Dutch team, Arsenal are expected to return with an improved offer as they seek to seal a fourth signing of the summer. football.london understands that Fabio Vieira will become the Gunners’ third summer signing after the club reached a £ 35m deal with FC Porto, following the arrival of Marquinhos and Matt Turner.
READ MORE: Who is Fabio Vieira? The £ 34m star “flies to London” to accept Arsenal transfer
Who is Lisandro Martínez?
Martínez is a 24-year-old versatile defender born in Gualeguay, Argentina. He is not the tallest defender with only 5 feet and 9 inches and currently plays for Eredivisie champions Ajax. The Argentine international moved to Amsterdam in 2019 and is considered a key player in the club.
Why does Arsenal want him?
Arsenal are keen to add quality to their defensive options for next season with Kieran Tierney’s injury problems and Nuno Tavares’ indifferent form. The Gunners suffered towards the end of the season with a series of defensive absentees and this seems to be addressed this summer with the pursuit of Martinez.
The 24-year-old defender fits into a level similar to Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu because he can play as a winger and center-back. This player profile adapts to Arteta’s tactical system and would benefit the Gunners to advance, with quality coverage in multiple positions.
Martinez averaged 1.9 tackles and 1.8 interceptions every 90 minutes last season, more than Tierney (0.8 and 0.7) and Tavares (1.1 and 0.4). The Argentine defender also averaged more starts (2.8) and blocks (0.5) every 90 minutes than the Gunners’ current options as a left winger.
How would it fit?
Martínez is often used as a central defender, but has the ability to play both on the left side and in the middle of the defensive field when necessary. The 24-year-old is left-handed and stands out with the ball, ejecting from the defense and advancing the play, putting his team ahead.
Martinez took second place in the Eredivisie, just behind Daley Blind, in the most progressive passes for 90 minutes (14.34) and passes in the last third every 90 minutes (13.43). These stats show Martinez’s potential to fit into Arteta’s tactical system and help the Gunners in games against teams that are installed with a low block.
In any system that Arteta chooses to install, Martínez can be incorporated due to its versatility. Due to his height, the 24-year-old can be used primarily as a left winger in the Arsenal system alongside Gabriel and Ben White, offering coverage when needed in a manner similar to Tomiyasu.
What has been said?
One of Martinez’s nicknames is “the butcher of Amsterdam”, which in itself hints at a tough, tough physical defender. Asked about that nickname, Martinez told NOS last season, “This will be for my style of play. The way I go into duels. I never let a ball run and if I have to go over corpses, I do.”
Martinez also made clear his ambition by speaking to AD.nl: “I want to be the best in my position.”
The former Ajax manager spoke of Martinez’s ability after rumors that the Argentine defender could move into the Premier League this summer. Overmars said: “Martinez is a left-handed player who can play several positions at the back. He is a defender who likes to play forward football.”
New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that he believes the 24-year-old is an “excellent” player. Ten Hag directed Martinez during his time at Ajax and said, “I think Lisandro Martinez is an excellent player and that’s why I talk to him a lot.”
Arsenal fans: what a good card would be Lisandro Martínez and how much would improve the defense of Mikel Arteta? Leave your thoughts below in the comments section below!
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