Premier League side Arsenal have made a new and improved bid for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez, according to reports.
There has been a lot of speculation over the last couple of weeks that the Argentina international will end up at the Gunners or Manchester United during this transfer window.
It was claimed by The Times that Man Utd will follow up on reportedly imminent deals for Tyrell Malacia and Frenkie de Jong by focusing on Ajax centre-back Martinez, who has played under Erik ten Hag for the past two seasons.
But 90min also had an update today with the website insisting that Arsenal are in ‘pole position’ to sign the 24-year-old this summer after making two bids.
And The Sun has now claimed that the Gunners ‘have made a third offer’ to Ajax for Martinez by improving ‘the financial terms of their second bid of £34m’.
The Dutch club know they don’t have to sell the defender for less than his value and ‘the adding of extra add-ons is unlikely to tempt Ajax as they try to spark a bidding war’ with Man Utd.
It is understood that Martinez ‘would be happy to move to Arsenal’ but that Ajax are in a ‘strong position and expect to get nearer their £43m asking price’ for the centre-back
Meanwhile, former Premier League striker Noel Whelan is impressed by the Gunners’ transfer business with Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus on the verge of joining.
Whelan told Football Insider: “This is the three-year plan taking shape, isn’t it? They’ve put the building blocks together and Arteta has built a really good team.
“I like the style of play at Arsenal too, and I think these players are extremely well suited to that style. You’ve got to be excited if you’re an Arsenal fan, haven’t you? For years they haven’t really spent big, so they’ve got to be pretty optimistic after this window.
“They’ve got a really competitive squad now to go out and run Tottenham close for the Champions League places.”
