The Argentina defender is said to be unlikely to get a new contract, in a day of transfer speculation that also links Arsenal and United with Newcastle’s Bazoumana Toure and Getafe with Jadon Sancho.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez’s future is uncertain after he criticised the club’s hierarchy, according to Sky Sports. The 28-year-old’s contract expires next summer, and there are doubts it will be extended. The reports are among a series of transfer stories involving Premier League and European clubs. All of them are speculation, and none has been confirmed by the clubs.
Martinez and United
Sky Sports reports there are doubts that Martinez’s contract will be extended beyond its expiry next summer. The Guardian reports that several United players share his concerns about the club’s summer recruitment. It says United spent about £155m on Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans without sufficiently strengthening other positions. Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall was reportedly among United’s targets. Martinez is understood to favour a move to a leading European club. United do, however, have an option to extend his contract by a year, so his departure in summer 2027 is not inevitable. Sky Sports also reports that director of football Jason Wilcox retains the backing of senior management despite the criticism.
The contract situation is likely to matter before next summer. Under the usual international transfer rules, and subject to the relevant regulations, a player can negotiate a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club in the last six months of his deal. United would therefore have to choose between offering an extension, considering a January sale or risking losing him for nothing.
After United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid, head coach Michael Carrick said he had not yet watched Martinez’s full interview and wanted to understand the comments before deciding whether any action was needed. Wayne Rooney reportedly criticised the remarks as disrespectful to teammates. Jamie Carragher questioned whether Martinez was entitled to criticise recruitment given his own performances. United have won only twice in all competitions this season. They took six points from their opening six Premier League games, reportedly their worst start in 40 years.
Who might replace Carrick?
The Sun reports that Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler is the standout candidate among current Premier League head coaches should United’s board decide to move on from Carrick. Talksport reports that former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and former Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann also have admirers among United’s leadership. No approach to or agreement with any of the three has been confirmed.
Toure, Sancho and others
CaughtOffside reports that United and Arsenal are monitoring Newcastle’s Ivory Coast attacker Bazoumana Toure, 20, despite his only joining this summer. Newcastle announced his arrival from Hoffenheim on 5 July 2026 on a long-term deal. The fee was reportedly about £43m, though Newcastle did not disclose it. He played for Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, and Newcastle signed him after Anthony Gordon left for Barcelona. Interest from Arsenal and United has not become a confirmed offer or negotiation.
DAZN, via Mundo Deportivo, reports that Getafe are interested in signing England winger Jadon Sancho, 26, on a free transfer. They are reportedly looking at ways to meet his salary demands. A free transfer is not cost-free, as wages, signing bonuses, agent fees and registration requirements can still be significant. La Liga’s squad-cost controls could also affect how Getafe structure an offer. Interest is not evidence that Sancho has agreed terms.
Other reports in the roundup are:
- Endrick: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says the Brazil striker, 20, does not need to leave on loan in January and believes he will be a “huge success” (TNT Sports Brazil, via the Athletic).
- Vitor Pereira: The former Wolves and Nottingham Forest boss is targeting a Premier League return and has been linked with struggling Fulham (Talksport).
- Gilberto Mora: Liverpool have stepped up their pursuit of the Mexico midfielder, 18, who plays for Club Tijuana, and hope to complete a deal in January (Teamtalk).
- Tarik Muharemovic: Leeds fear they may lose the Bosnia and Herzegovina defender, 23, next summer, with Bayern Munich among the interested clubs (Football Insider).
- Nicolo Tresoldi: Barcelona are tracking the Germany under-21 striker, 22, who scored a hat-trick for Club Brugge against Inter Milan on Tuesday (Fichajes).
