Manchester United have got 'serious concerns' over Lisandro Martinez heading into next season, according to ex-scout Mick Brown.
The Red Devils have made a big U-turn in their season since sacking Ruben Amorim in January, with Michael Carrick guiding the team up to third place in the Premier League table and having them on the brink of returning to Champions League football for next season.
Plans are already being made around how to improve the squad for the new campaign and busier schedule, and that has seen some concerns raised about the Argentina international, after a number of prolonged absences during his time at Old Trafford.
Man Utd Have 'Serious Concerns' Over Martinez
lisandro martinez
Martinez has suffered two long-term injuries since joining the club from Ajax, breaking his foot and rupturing his ACL, but he returned this season and has been key to their good form.
But in his most recent appearance against Leeds, the centre-back was sent off for violent conduct and will now miss the next three games, while Harry Maguire is also sidelined through suspension, meaning Carrick has limited options in his defence.
Now, while speaking to Football Insider, Brown has revealed that there are 'serious concerns' around his availability in the future, which could see the club enter the transfer market to replace him.
“Man United have serious concerns about Martinez,” Brown said.
“He’s had a lot of injuries this season, and when he’s not injured, he’s suspended. The red cards and that nasty streak have been a concern for a while. And then he had that knee injury, which seems to have caused more complications.
“He’s not available often enough to make a real impact on the team, and when he is available, his performances haven’t been up to standard. When Harry Maguire is out of the team, there is a noticeable drop off and that should be alarming for the likes of Martinez, who you would expect to step up.
“They have other priorities in the transfer market, but if these frustrations continue, they could look at bringing in a more reliable option to replace him.”
Martinez Decision to be Made
Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez staring
While there is no doubting that Martinez is one of the best at the club, with Frank Leboeuf even declaring him 'one of the best' in the world, he is entering the final year of his contract at Old Trafford, and if there are concerns then some decisions need to be made.
Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro are the future, while Matthijs De Ligt's back issue seems to be more serious than initially thought. With Maguire handed a new contract, this would be the perfect time to cash in on Martinez if they wanted to, but they must be aware that it won't be easy to replace him.
United have lots of priorities this summer, and getting rid of a top player shouldn't be something they are considering.
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