Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
‘Someone said to me earlier this morning’: Watts shares fresh Martinez update amid Arsenal links
෴Arsenal appear “less and less likely” to sign Lisandro Martinez this summer, according to Charles Watts.
𒁃The Goal.com Gunners correspondent provided an update on the transfer saga’s state of play on his YouTube channel.
💝Arsenal have been heavily linked with Martinez this summer, along with Premier League rivals Manchester United.
ﷺBoth the Gunners and the Red Devils have reportedly seen multiple bids rejected by Ajax for the 24-year-old.
🌠However, Watts has now claimed that United – rather than Arsenal – are “actively pursuing and pushing” for Martinez.
𝄹That said, he made it clear that “the door is still not closed” regarding the Gunners’ pursuit of the Argentina international.
💛“In terms of Lisandro Martinez, that one’s beginning – from people that I speak to – looking less and less likely that Arsenal are going to try and get it over the line,” began Watts.
🍒“I’m not ruling it out – someone said to me earlier this morning when I spoke to them; the door is still not closed.
🍸“But out of the two clubs who are most in for Martinez – Arsenal and Manchester United – United are now the side that are really actively pursuing and pushing for this transfer.
๊“Whether that kind of suggests that Arsenal are taking a backward step, they’re looking at the figures involved and thinking ‘we’re not gonna go to what United are offering for him.
“He’s absolutely not shut the door on Arsenal”
ꦬ“And also, maybe it’s become more and more clear that the player fancies Manchester United.
♋“Which, the whole way through this saga, whenever you speak to someone close to the player, they kind of say ‘look, he’s absolutely not shut the door on Arsenal’.
💛“But they’ve always felt that, because of that Ten Hag connection, United probably would have the advantage.
♍“And that’s kind of how it seems at the moment with United.
ꦗ“(They’re) the club that are most actively pursuing and pushing for this transfer to get over the line. And they’re the ones who are in regular contact with Ajax and Arsenal aren’t.
ও“So take from that what you will in terms of the possibility of Lisandro Martinez moving to Arsenal.”
༒Watts wrote on that Ajax want around €50m (£42.4m) for the defender, who can operate at centre-back or left-back.
ꦅApparently, neither Arsenal nor United have reached that figure.
💎Arsenal’s most recent offer reportedly totalled around €40m (£35m), plus a further €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons.