Manchester United’s defensive rebuild next summer is set to signal the end of Lisandro Martinez’s Old Trafford career.
The Argentine landed himself in hot water after last week’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid when he criticised his employers over United’s transfer policy in the summer window, saying he expected more of director of football Jason Wilcox, but sources insist that would not be the reason for the defender’s departure.
Martinez was fined by the club and apologised for the timing of his comments in a statement that added: ‘Everyone at the club is doing everything they can to make the team successful.’
The 28-year-old started Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds at Elland Road, but came off at half-time with a thigh injury having already spent 20 months out of action during his four-year United career. When he is fit, Martinez has been a regular on the left side of central defence since moving to United from Ajax for £57million in 2022, making 115 appearances and scoring four goals.
But he will be out of contract at the end of June and is unlikely to sign a new one. United would be very reluctant to let the 2022 World Cup winner leave as a free agent, so it’s more probable that the club would trigger a 12-month extension in his contract and try to sell him in the summer.
United retain an interest in Jarrad Branthwaite having had two offers worth up to £50m rejected by Everton in 2024, and could try again in the summer.
Lisandro Martinez is set to leave Manchester United next summer to begin the club’s defensive overhaul
United retain an interest in Jarrad Branthwaite (centre) having had two offers worth up to £50m rejected by Everton in 2024, and could try again in the summer
Uncertainty also hangs over the futures of Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire. Shaw is out of contract after 12 years at Old Trafford and doesn’t have an extension clause in his current deal, unlike Maguire who has a 12-month option to extend the one-year contract that he signed in April.
United have a decision to make on both players, but it’s understood there are no doubts over Matthijs de Ligt’s future at the club even though the Dutchman has been out of action for almost a year with a back injury that required surgery. De Ligt, who has been an unused substitute for the last two games against Leeds and Atletico Madrid, is under contract until 2029 with the option of another year.
Fergie under fire
It’s a measure of the bad blood between Manchester United and Leeds that Sir Alex Ferguson’s chauffeur-driven car arrived at Elland Road on Sunday protected by four police outriders.
The two clubs were taking no chances with Ferguson’s safety at one of the most incendiary fixtures in the English football calendar, and made sure that the legendary United boss got into the ground without any incident.
The 84-year-old is using a walking stick at the moment as he recovers from an achilles problem that has also required him to wear a protective boot.
Despite the efforts of the police and Leeds security staff, however, Ferguson was verbally abused by one fan in a video circulated on social media as he made his way from his seat in the stands – where he was sat with his former kit man Albert Morgan – to the directors’ lounge at half-time.
Ferguson dominated the rivalry with Leeds during his time as United boss, winning 20 of his 36 matches against them and losing only five.
If further evidence of the animosity between the two clubs was needed, ex-Leeds boss and current Canada head coach Jesse Marsch referred to United as ‘the scum’ when he congratulated Daniel Farke’s side on their performance in the 1-1 draw in a post on Monday.
Ferguson dominated the rivalry with Leeds when he was United manager, winning 20 of his 36 matches against them – the last of which being this 3-0 League Cup win in 2011
No Carrick summit
Contrary to speculation over summit talks between Michael Carrick and Wilcox at Carrington on Monday, Confidential understands the two men did not meet at the training ground.
Even though the players were off after Sunday’s draw at Leeds before training and travelling to Italy on Tuesday for the Champions League clash with Como, Carrick and Wilcox didn’t have an opportunity to get together after a tough week for both men.
Wilcox came under scrutiny in the wake of Lisandro Martinez’s bombshell TV interview in Madrid, while United’s 2-0 defeat by Atletico and a pair of 1-1 draws with Tottenham and Leeds in the Premier League left Carrick without a win in six games.
However, insiders say that Wilcox still retains the trust of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and there is no appetite to change head coach despite Carrick overseeing United’s worst start to a league season in 40 years.
Amass heads for the exit
There is a growing expectation that Harry Amass will leave United in January after playing just 18 minutes of first-team football so far this season.
Even with a raft of injuries at left back, 19-year-old Amass has found himself on the outside looking in with right backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui and centre back Ayden Heaven all chosen ahead of him while Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu are sidelined through injury. His only appearance this season was a cameo off the bench in the 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah last month.
United were open to both a loan or permanent move for Amass in the summer, but their inability to recruit a new left back meant the club’s hands were tied. Burnley were among the teams who held talks before choosing not to proceed, and Confidential understands around a dozen Championship clubs are ready to come back to the negotiating table with the January window fast approaching.
Amass, who joined from Watford’s academy three years ago, thrived on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season, and with United out of the Carabao Cup and seemingly reluctant to use Amass even when stretched to the max in his position, expect movement for the youngster in the next eight to ten weeks.
Harry Amass is expected to leave United in January after only making one appearance this season, off the bench in the Champions League against Sabah
Tavernier a target?
United are one of the Premier League clubs being linked with a move for Bournemouth winger Marcus Tavernier in January.
However, Old Trafford sources say they are not proactively tracking the 27-year-old, who is also said to be attracting interest from Liverpool and Chelsea four years after he moved to the Vitality Stadium from Middlesbrough in a £10m deal.
Tavernier has been in fine form to start the season, scoring four times in seven league games including in Bournemouth’s 2-0 win over Sunderland on Sunday that secured the Cherries their first three points of the campaign.
It’s understood rival clubs have been encouraged by Bournemouth’s willingness to consider selling players at the right price in January. England midfielder Alex Scott – who was on United’s radar before they signed Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos as part of a midfield rebuild in the summer – may be one of them if clubs offer between £80-100m.
Marcus Tavernier scored in Bournemouth’s 4-4 draw at Old Trafford last season
While Wayne Rooney generates plenty of headlines behind a microphone these days, it was son Kai who made a statement on the pitch over the past week
Kai strikes right chord
While Wayne Rooney generates plenty of headlines behind a microphone these days, it was son Kai who made a statement on the pitch over the past week.
Injuries have been a source of real frustration for the 16-year-old, but he is fit again and back in the fold. Rooney made his UEFA Youth League debut for the Under 19s away to Atletico Madrid, and followed that up three days later with his Under 21s debut against Nottingham Forest.
He dropped back down to the Under 18s, also against Forest, to get himself back on the scoresheet but things are heating up nicely for Rooney who remains one of the only true centre-forward options in the academy.
Chido Obi is out on loan while Louie Bradbury has joined Stoke City. It means that Rooney takes on huge significance across the age groups, not least with United having used a false-nine system to this point in the Under 19s and Under 21s.
