Manchester United Intensifies Pursuit of Top Arsenal Target, Increases Bid to €50M for Ajax Defender

• Manchester United look set to beat Arsenal in the race to sign Lisandro Martinez from Dutch Eredivisie champions Ajax this summer
• The Red Devils have made an improved offer of €50m to Ajax for the Argentine defender, who is also being courted by the Gunners
• Martinez has emerged as Erik ten Hag's top defensive target as the Dutch manager tries to rebuild Manchester United

Manchester United are confident they can sign Lisandro Martinez from Dutch Eredivisie champions Ajax this summer after tabling an improved offer for the Argentine defender.

The Red Devils are in a race with fellow Premier League rivals Arsenal to sign the 24-year-old defender who has been identified as a key target for Erik ten Hag.

According to 90MIN, Manchester United has now tabled an improved bid of €50m to persuade Ajax to sell Martinez as the figure looks way above what the Gunners can afford to pay.

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The latest offer is inclusive of bonuses, with the overall figure reaching the valuation Ajax had set to sell the Argentine defender as United are confident the Dutch champions will accept the bid.

Martinez has expressed his desire to leave Ajax this summer for a bigger challenge and the defender’s relationship with Erik ten Hag gives Manchester United an edge in the race to seal the deal.

Manchester United teammates not surprised by Ronaldo’s latest decision

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to leave Manchester United has not taken his teammates by surprise as the 37-year-old is still to resume pre-season training with the Red Devils.

According to Daily Post, the players at Man United know how ambitious and driven Ronaldo is, and they have assumed that he would not want his career to conclude in the Europa League.

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Ronaldo will miss Manchester United’s pre-season tour of Asia and Australia as the Portugal striker is still in his hometown while the rest of the team jets out to kickstart the new season.

Erik Ten Hag bans alcohol before games

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has laid down the principles he wants his players to abide by as he takes charge of the Old Trafford club this season.

The Dutch manager who is known to be a strict disciplinarian has set five sets of rules which he believes will help to develop a strong bond with United's players and make them a winning team.

Erik ten Hag has now revealed any player late to training or team meetings will be dropped without exception while adding that drinking alcohol during a match week is also banned.