Sources: Man United and Chelsea in Lautaro Martinez race amid £70m reveal
Man United and Chelsea are set to rival Arsenal to sign Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Both clubs are looking to sign a new number nine in the off-season and the 25-year-old features on the wanted lists at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
It is believed that Martinez would be very keen on a potential move to the Premier League at the end of this season, after nearly five years in Italy.
Inter are struggling with financial problems and he is viewed as the club’s most valuable asset – with sources telling Football Insider that a fee of between £70-80million would be enough to seal his signature.
That outlay would not be a problem for all three interested clubs.
Chelsea could hold the key to completing a potential deal, with sources telling this site on Tuesday (14 February) that Inter are keen on re-signing mega-money flop Romelu Lukaku on loan next season.
Martinez, who has more than three years left to run on his San Siro contract, has notched 15 goals and seven assists in 31 appearances as a regular starter this term.
He was part of Argentina’s triumphant World Cup squad last year but failed to make his mark in Qatar across 238 minutes of action.
However, the 25-year-old has recently revealed that he was playing through an injury at the showpiece tournament.
Since joining Inter almost five years ago, Martinez has scored 89 goals in 211 games – and was crucial to the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto win under Antonio Conte in the 2020-21 season.
Man United are hunting a long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo after his acrimonious departure from the club late last year (2022).
As revealed by this site on 12 February, free-spending Chelsea want a box-office striker signing which could be their biggest yet.
In other news, Football Insider updates with Erik ten Hag told by Man United scout to sign Lyon sensation.