(Credit: Imago)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Wed 29 April 2026 18:15, UK

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Manchester United are determined to keep hold of centre-back Lisandro Martinez this summer despite him nearing the end of his contract, sources have told Football Insider.

The Argentine is set to enter the final year of his contract at Old Trafford this summer, but the club hold the option to extend his stay by a further year and are keen to keep hold of him.

The 28-year-old has been linked with a potential move to Barcelona in recent months, but sources have indicated that United are ready to resist any moves for him this summer and are not willing to entertain offers.

Martinez is seen as a key part of the Red Devils’ defensive unit for next season and beyond, while his versatility and experience are also major ticks against his name.

United’s transfer plans for the summer are already in place, and they have no intention of losing any of their main defensive options at present.

Manchester United wary of ‘major concerns’ surrounding Lisandro Martinez

Martinez has missed the recent wins over Chelsea and Brentford through suspension, after he picked up a red card during the 2-1 defeat to Leeds United on 13 April.

The former Ajax man was shown a straight red card for pulling the hair of Whites striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and still has one more Premier League game to sit out as part of his three-game ban.

Former Old Trafford chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider in the aftermath of that dismissal that Martinez’s availability is providing “major concerns” for the club, due to the amount of football that he has missed.

The defender missed the opening months of the season during the final stages of a cruciate ligament injury that he sustained last term, and has since spent further time on the sidelines throughout March.

Martinez has only started 11 games for United in all competitions in 2025-26, and the lack of reliability regarding his fitness is clearly a concern for the coaching staff.

Nevertheless, his quality is invaluable to the team, so much so that they are not ready to cash in on him this summer, despite the availability issues and his contract entering its final stages.

Michael Carrick already making decisions on next year’s squad

Brown also told Football Insider last week that United are set to keep Mason Mount this summer, with Michael Carrick believed to be a big fan of the former Chelsea man.

The interim boss has been heavily praised for the turnaround that he has overseen since taking the reins, and it is expected that he will be given the job on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

Decisions regarding the futures of some players are already being made with the 44-year-old’s opinions in mind, as he appears set to be handed the reins full-time in the summer.

United chiefs have been impressed by the impact that he has made on the group since his arrival back in January, and he is now within touching distance of achieving the goal of Champions League qualification.