UNITED TOLD TO UP BID FOR AJAX DEFENDER MARTINEZ

MANCHESTER UNITED will have to raise their £43million bid for Lisandro Martinez if they want to sign the Ajax centre-half, though the Argentine is determined to join United and Erik ten Hag has made it clear he wants him to be the next key signing.

But Old Trafford manager Ten Hag has yet to make an offer on Ajax wide player Antony because of the uncertainty over Cristiano Ronaldo, though the club insist the

Portuguese star isn’t for sale.

Ten Hag is in the dark as to whether Ronaldo will stay or go and until the situation is resolved the club can’t pursue Antony.

But Martinez looks likely to join Ten Hag’s new-look United, along with Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia, the left-back signed from Feyenoord. Frenkie de Jong remains the principal target for midfield but United have yet to agree terms with Barcelona.

Ajax are holding out for a higher fee for Martinez but it’s unclear if United will improve on their current bid, though Ten Hag (pictured) will push them to secure the deal and De Jong, and wants the Ronaldo situation resolved as soon as possible.

Ten Hag, who faces the media tomorrow after arriving in Bangkok for the club’s pre-season tour, will hope forward Marcus Rashford can quickly put last season’s poor form behind him. He will be quizzed on the lack of signings as he tries to rebuild a squad that has already lost seven players with the start of the new Premier League campaign a month away.

The Dutchman, though, is happy with the signing of 22-year-old Malacia.

‘He’s the modern left-back or full-back,’ Ten Hag told MUTV.

‘He suits the profile and most important is that he closes the right area but he can also take part in the offensive side of our game. I think he will really contribute.’