Arsenal are favourites to sign Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez ahead of Manchester United, according to 90min.com reporter Graeme Bailey.

While both teams have been credited with an interest in the Argentinian international, Bailey believes United are prioritising a move for Villarreal’s Pau Torres, leaving the Gunners frontrunners for the Ajax player:

“I think that United are probably looking at Martinez as a defender, but I’d put Arsenal in pole position for Martinez. I think United may prefer Pau Torres anyway.”

It is believed that Arsenal have made a second bid for Martinez worth around €40m (£34m), but there has been no indication as to whether Ajax will accept or reject the proposal.

The centre-back’s asking price is said to be €50m (£43m) so it remains to be seen whether the Eredivisie champions would agree to sell for below that amount. They may well be waiting for United to make an offer of their own in order to start a bidding war but, from the looks of things, it appears that the Red Devils are unlikely to firm up their interest.