How Lisandro Martinez compares to Man Utd defenders amid transfer move
- The Argentine played regularly under Erik ten Hag at Ajax last season.
- Martinez provided more assists than any of United’s defenders last campaign.
- He also won more aerial battles than any of United’s defenders last season.
The Erik ten Hag era has officially begun at Manchester United with the Dutchman winning 4-0 in his first game in charge of the club against Liverpool on July 12.
Ten Hag will be looking to make his own stamp on the Red Devils’ squad after five first team players departed at the end of their contracts.
United, who finished sixth in the Premier League last season, have made just one summer signing so far, with Tyrell Malacia joining the club from Feyenoord for £15m.
The Red Devils’ defence was criticised by pundits and fans for their awful performances during last season, thus leading to Ten Hag signing a new full-back.
However, it seems as if United’s new boss won’t be stopping there, with reports the club have agreed a deal to sign Lisandro Martinez from Ten Hag’s former team Ajax.
According to Fabrizio Romano, there is a ‘full agreement’ between the Red Devils and Dutch club for Martinez, with United paying €55m for the defender.
The Italian journalist adds that Martinez will sign a contract until 2027 at Old Trafford after a meeting between United and Ajax representatives on Wednesday.
Martinez, who was signed by Ten Hag at Ajax in 2019, featured regularly under him, making 118 appearances in three seasons, scoring six goals and providing the same number of assists.
A move for the 24-year-old would be seen as good business by the Red Devils, with Martinez averaging a rating of 7.60 in the Eredivisie last campaign, as per WhoScored. But does the Argentine out-perform United’s current centre-back options?
SportingPedia takes a look at how Martinez compares to the Red Devils’ other central-defenders last season.
| Player | Average rating | Goals | Assists | Aerials Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisandro Martinez | 7.6 | 1 | 3 | 3.3 |
| Harry Maguire | 6.65 | 1 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Raphael Varane | 6.78 | 1 | 1 | 2.5 |
| Victor lindelof | 6.5 | 0 | 2 | 1.9 |
| Eric Bailly | 6.28 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
| Phil Jones | 6.42 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 |
Verdict
If United’s move for Martinez is based on these stats alone, then it’s hard to argue that this is a sensible deal and one that will potentially lead to a more solid backline next season.
The Argentine’s arrival will likely lead to the Red Devils having to offload one or two of their other centre-back options, with Bailly and Jones looking the likely pair to depart.