Manchester United and Erik ten Hag could be handed timely training ground boost

Erik ten Hag has tended to resort to what he knows best when conducting transfer business at Manchester United, focusing on signing players he has worked with, has been impressed by or those recommended by his agent, and it's not been a strategy without fault.

It's provided as many misses as hits. Ten Hag pushed for Sofyan Amrabat this summer having worked with him at FC Utrecht but he has never looked ready for the standards of United. The Dutchman's judgement on spending big on Antony is also questionable. But the decision to sign Andre Onana is beginning to look a wise one and of all the signings made over the last two summers, Lisandro Martinez is surely the best of the lot.

The Argentine has been outstanding since joining from Ajax. Ten Hag wanted the centre-back he had worked with in Amsterdam for his aggression as a defender, his quality on the ball and his leadership and personality off the field. He has delivered in every area.

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In a season decimated by injuries to almost every member of the squad, it is Martinez's absence that has hurt United the most. He transforms the quality of their build-up play and brings an improvement in defending, especially in one-v-one situations. The 26-year-old is a leader as well, even without the armband.

He is also a valuable presence around the training ground, as Ten Hag revealed recently when discussing those players who make sure standards never drop. He name-checked four players in total but lingered on what Martinez brings to those sessions at Carrington.

"Rapha Varane, Casemiro, Bruno. Licha Martinez,