After a deal was reached on Sunday, Lisandro Martinez is on track to become Erik ten Hag's third significant acquisition at Manchester United.
The versatile 24-year-old will allegedly cost United €57 million (£48 million), with add-ons raising the total to €67 million (£56.5 million). He will follow his former Ajax coach to Old Trafford.
After Ten Hag's hiring was officialized in April, Martinez became United's top target. Arsenal was among the teams said to be vying with United for the Argentina international, but it appears that Ten Hag's presence made a difference.
Martinez is predominantly a center-back, although he has also occasionally filled in at left-back and in defensive midfield. Because of his versatility and ball-handling skills, he is a desirable choice for many prospective suitors.
Prior to the 2019–20 season, he played for Amsterdam's Ajax team, where he won two Eredivisie championships, including the most recent one in 2017.
Martinez's sale to United appears to be going through despite Ajax's stated reluctance to do so.
"Manchester United is thrilled to announce the club has reached agreement with Ajax for the signing of Argentine international defender Lisandro Martinez, subject to medical approval, completion of player contracts, and UK visa requirements," the club stated in a statement.
After finishing last season with their lowest Premier League point total (58), Martinez will join United as they undergo a reconstruction. They've already signed left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord and free-agent Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, who left Brentford.
The 2021–22 season marked United's first league campaign without a positive goal differential in more than 30 years.
Ten Hag has been given the responsibility of directing a development, and for many people, that entails creating a playing persona.
As a result of their attacking style of football based on maintaining possession, the Dutchman's Ajax team was regarded as one of the most entertaining teams in Europe. Martinez, a ball-playing center-back, is seen as a potentially crucial acquisition in Ten Hag's quest to make United more at ease with the ball.
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Martinez is a left-footed player, so his addition may be problematic for Harry Maguire, the much-maligned United captain, who typically plays as the left of the two center-backs.
Ten Hag affirmed that the England international will continue to serve as captain, although the addition of Martinez widens the field of competition for Maguire.