Manchester United's Latest Lisandro Martinez Decision Shows How Club Is Backing Erik Ten Hag

Manchester United have been known in the past to not back their managers in the transfer market, but that seems to have changed under Erik ten Hag.

Granted, this also is likely due to the wholesale of changes in the background of the club, but it is good to see that Ten Hag's targets are being properly targeted.

The likes of Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal have previously been vocal on the matter that their preferred choices were not often acquired at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag, though, is the first manager working under the new regime led by football director John Murtough.

It hasn't been difficult to see that United's targets so far this summer have been related to the Dutch manager.

Frenkie de Jong was his former midfielder, he has managed Antony and Lisandro Martinez at Ajax in the last years, and Tyrell Malacia was a much-desired player for Ten Hag in Amsterdam.

Manchester United

Most recently, a report from Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News has said that the club moved away from their primary target at centre-back to focus on Ten Hag's preference of Martinez.

Pau Torres was the recruitment department's choice as a left-footed centre-back to bring to Old Trafford.

However, Ten Hag did not want to prioritise the Villarreal defender, and instead United backed the Dutch manager in his pursuit of Lisandro Martinez.

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The club have recently bid €50 million for the Ajax player, and are confident that this will be accepted.

One positive of these former Ten Hag players coming into the squad is that they should be able to easily fit into the playstyle that he wants to play. Martinez was key under him in Amsterdam last term.

This would help the integration through the entire squad.

Manchester United

You'd expect that there would be a more balanced transfer policy in the coming transfer windows, but will restructuring in the background, it makes sense to trust in Ten Hag's targets.

It is also positive that these players are being targeted in the positions needed at Old Trafford, however, a pure defensive midfielder is still missing.

Some believe that Martinez could fill in this position due to the lack of top quality holding midfield players on the market.

While there is an argument that United are overpaying for unproven Premier League talent, full trust must be in the manager while in this transition period.

It is no secret that United's scouting department needs improvement, and they could do much worse then following Ten Hag's wishes while these changes are made.