Man Utd need to spend over £100million for Martinez and teammate in Ajax deal
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been warned by his former club that he will need to shell out over £100million in order to steal Lisandro Martinez and Antony away from Ajax this summer.
Ten Hag is bidding to strengthen freshen up a squad that slumped to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last term, and the Dutchman has targeted a number of ex-players to replace some of United's current flops.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong was the 52-year-old's top summer target, but the former Ajax chief was also keen on bringing Martinez and Antony – two players who impressed under Ten Hag in last season's Eredivisie-winning squad – with him to Old Trafford.
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But Ajax are unwilling to allow their former boss to pinch some of their top stars – and they have told Ten Hag that United will have to cough up some major cash if they are serious about signing Martinez and Antony in the coming weeks.
According to a new report from The Daily Record, Martinez and Antony are keen on joining United, but the Dutch champions are adamant that they would only part company with the in-demand duo for a combined fee of £106.1m – a sum that Manchester United would be unable to afford.
Ten Hag has reportedly only been handed a modest transfer budget to overhaul his playing squad this summer, and it's highly unlikely that the new Old Trafford chief would blow the lot on two players.
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As things stand, Martinez would appear to be the most likely player to join United this summer after the club reportedly tabled an improved bid for the versatile Argentina defender.
However, United's stance could change after Cristiano Ronaldo revealed that he wants to quit the club this summer to pursue a move to a side who can offer him Champions League football.
Losing Ronaldo would be a bitter blow – and his departure would force Ten Hag into the transfer market for attacking reinforcements, which could see Antony come back into the frame.
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