A fresh insight into the ongoing efforts of Arsenal to secure the signing of Ajax star Lisandro Martinez has been provided on Saturday.
The name of stopper Martinez has of course taken its place front and centre in the headlines on the red half of north London over the course of the last couple of weeks.
This comes after the transfer team at Arsenal, altogether out of the blue, were revealed to have moved forward with an opening offer for the Argentine’s services.
Ajax, for their part, opted to rebuff the proposal, understood to have come in around the €30 million mark.
🚨 Arsenal scheduled to meet Ajax next week as Lisandro Martinez battle continues. #AFC + #MUFC both think he’s keen & personal terms no issue. If Ajax get what they want (~€50m fixed), 24yo must pick. Ten Hag factor key but race still open @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/aqnwpOK3yH
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 2, 2022
And yet, the Gunners have not been deterred, seeing a 2nd bid knocked back, too, amid the widespread understanding that Martinez has been identified as a priority signing on the part of Mikel Arteta and co.
It should therefore not come as a major surprise to hear that, on Saturday, a fresh meeting has been put in place between the respective boards at the Emirates and Johan Cruyff Arena.
The info comes courtesy of transfer expert David Ornstein, who has confirmed that another round of negotiations will take place this coming week.
Two potential stumbling blocks, though, remain in Arsenal’s path.
First comes Ajax’s asking price, with the Dutch champions continuing to demand a fixed sum of €50 million. Not only that, but Manchester United too remain in the thick of the hunt for the 24-year-old, boasting a potential ace up their sleeve in the form of Erik ten Hag.
🚨 Arsenal scheduled to meet Ajax next week as Lisandro Martinez battle continues. #AFC + #MUFC both think he’s keen & personal terms no issue. If Ajax get what they want (~€50m fixed), 24yo must pick. Ten Hag factor key but race still open @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/aqnwpOK3yH
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 2, 2022
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