Arsenal: Arteta now 'pushing Edu' to seal £43m deal at Emirates

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ‘will be pushing his recruitment team’ to seal Lisandro Martinez’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium due to fears of Manchester United attempting to hijack the deal, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Gunners and Red Devils, who finished fifth and sixth in the Premier League respectively last season, are involved in a tug-of-war as they are eager to secure Martinez’s services ahead of the upcoming campaign.

According to The Sun, Arsenal have submitted a third Martinez bid after seeing proposals worth £26million and £34million turned down by Ajax.

The report suggests the Eredivisie champions have slapped a £43million price tag on the seven-cap Argentina international and they are hoping to spark a bidding war between the Gunners and Manchester United.

The Red Devils, who now have Erik ten Hag at the helm after the Dutchman opted to swap Ajax for Old Trafford, are also interested.

It is understood that Manchester United are plotting an offer worth £40million as the new Red Devils chief wants to seal a reunion with Martinez.

However, Ajax are in a strong negotiating position and do not need to lower their valuation as the 24-year-old’s £43,000-per-week contract still has three years to run.

O’Rourke believes Arsenal boss Arteta will be fully aware of Manchester United’s interest in Martinez.

As a result, the journalist feels the Gunners boss will be urging those working behind the scenes to speed up negotiations.

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O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “Arsenal have, obviously, done a lot of business early so far this summer transfer window.

“Mikel Arteta will be pushing his recruitment team, Edu and others to try and get this deal