Ajax are now reportedly demanding €60m to sell Arsenal target Lisandro Martinez, though the player is pushing them to negotiate.

De Telegraaf report that Ajax are still yet to accept any bids for Lisandro Martinez, and they’re demanding a deal worth €60m (£51m) in total.

For the player’s part, he wants them to negotiate, but the club hierarchy remain stubborn, having already made £45m+ in summer sales.

They don’t need to sell a player under contract until 2025, so they’ll only do so on their terms.

Manchester United have currently made the largest bid for Martinez, offering €45m plus an extra €5m in bonuses. But they’d have to raise that by another €10m to meet Ajax’s valuation.

Arsenal are also technically still in the race, but the Gunners have only offered €45m in total, so the valuation gap is even larger for them.

Sam Dean of The Telegraph writes that though the influence of former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag could be crucial, it’s not currently correct to say Martinez has turned down Arsenal or chosen United. He’s simply waiting for an agreement to be reached with Ajax.

Fabrizio Romano claims that whilst Martinez is tempted by a ten Hag reunion, he has never refused Arsenal, who are still in the race.

But at €60m, it’s hard to see Arsenal reaching an agreement with Ajax.

That seems an extortionate fee for a defender given the current state of the Gunners’ squad, which is pretty well stocked in the back four.