Manchester United are interested in a deal for Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.
What’s the word?
That is according to a report from The Times (via The Express) who claim that Man United have now learnt the asking price for the rampant Argentine striker.
They claim that he could cost in the region of £60m to £70m this summer.
Martial upgrade
With reports stating that Ten Hag wants Martinez to lead the line next season, it gives us a good indication of how he wants his forward to play in United’s attacking line.
The 52-year-old Dutchman clearly wants his striker to possess the necessary technical attributes and work rate to help create an offensive threat. In other words, he does not want a forward who relies solely on wingers to produce chances.
Should Man Utd sell Martial?
Martinez, who has been described as a “machine” by reporter Roberto Rojas, serves as a major upgrade on Anthony Martial and conforms to ten Hag’s creative requirements, with his match average 3.19 shot-creating actions ideal for the Dutch tactician, as per FBref.
For starters, Martinez has proven himself as a world-class centre forward over the last three seasons having scored 48 goals and provided 18 assists in 105 appearances for Inter in Serie A.
Meanwhile, Anthony Martial has netted 22 times and chipped in with 13 assists over the last three seasons during the course of 62 appearances for Man United in the Premier League – with his latest spell at Sevilla underlining his lack of threat as a forward right now where he has scored just once.
United are right to be targeting a deal for Martinez and ten Hag should instruct Rangnick to go in with an offer of around £70m in what would be an astute, future-proof move that allows the new manager to play exactly how he wants to.
In other news: Ten Hag set to make £20m “pitbull” his first MUFC signing, supporters surely buzzing – opinion…
