TERMS AGREED: Manchester United set to make first offer to sign £40m Star – Player set arrive London Carrington today with agent to finalize deal – Here we go soon
TERMS AGREED: Manchester United set to make first offer to sign £40m Star – Player set arrive London Carrington today with agent to finalize deal – Here we go soon
Of all the positions Manchester United were hoping to reinforce during the summer of 2024, this was certainly not one of the first that came to mind.
Everyone knows the Red Devils want a centre-forward to ease the goalscoring burden on Rasmus Hojlund. The departure of Raphael Varane has Manchester United prioritising centre-halves too, a bid in for Jarrad Branthwaite and one expected to follow for Lille’s Lenny Yoro
A left-back may be required too after Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s injury issues, while the expected departures of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Sofyan Amrabat will also leave United short in the middle of the park.
But between the sticks? With Andre Onana seemingly the club’s number one for years to come and with Altay Bayindir under contract too, reports linking Man United with a move for Genoa goalkeeper Josep Martinez may come as something of a surprise.
Reporter Sacha Tavolieri even claims that Erik ten Hag‘s side will make an offer ‘today’, irons in plenty of fires and plates-a-spinning as Ineos look to get discussions underway for a variety of targets for a variety of positions.
Josep Martinez is a Manchester United target
“Manchester United now expected to formulate an official offer (for) Josep Martinez today,” Tavolieri writes on X. “Red Devils want to go concrete despite discussions between Inter and the player’s representatives.
“Wait and see.”
Martinez, capped once by Spain, joined Genoa from RB Leipzig in 2022. The 26-year-old has blossomed into one of Serie A’s most highly-rated goalkeepers over the last 12 months, with Martinez’s background in Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy seeing him hone his talents.
There are shades of fellow Spaniard David de Gea in Martinez. Boasting remarkable reflexes, Martinez is a master of keeping out shots from point-range. An acrobatic, athletic shot-stopper, the Valencia-born glovesman has made those sprawling, top-hand, De Gea-esque saves something of a personal trademark.
“Goalkeeping inspiration? I’ve been looking at (Real Madrid legend Iker) Casillas. Then, I also liked De Gea a lot,” Martinez told EuroFoot. “My goal or my dream would be to play in the Champions League, and also to work very hard to try to get closer to the level of the goalkeepers who are in the national team.”
Man United may have left it a little late to make their move, however. Corriere dello Sport say that Inter Milan are close to agreeing terms with Genoa on a deal that would cost them an initial £12.5 million.
The Serie A champions also have the added advantage that Genoa are keen on Gaetano Oristianio, who could join the Grifone as part of a deal which sees Martinez move in the other direction.
