United defender “offered” the chance to join LaLiga giants, Carrick will be disappointed if move materialises – report

Manchester United have officially announced the capture of Andrey Santos from Chelsea, while two more announcements are expected soon. Apart from the midfielder, INEOS have also sealed deals for Karl Darlow, who is set to act as backup for Senne Lammens, and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. The signing of the Belgian came as a surprise, and more could be on the way, with the Red Devils planning to add at least one more midfielder, along with a left-winger, a backup striker, and a left-back. Alongside incomings, the club is also focused on outgoings, with Marcus Rashford expected to leave despite Michael Carrick opening the door to a possible reunion. Lisandro Martinez could be leaving Noussair Mazraoui has been linked with a surprise exit in recent days, and fellow defender Lisandro Martinez is the latest name to be added to the list. The Argentine, who is currently at the World Cup, is a firm fan favourite at Old Trafford, but his injury record and anger management issues are a concern. There were plans to shift the World Cup winner to a defensive midfield role but that did not materialise. His current deal is valid until 2027, with United having the option of extending it by another year. So far, contract talks are yet to occur, but the 20-time English league champions are expected to trigger the option to avoid losing the Argentina international on a free next summer. Atletico Madrid offered the chance to sign Lisandro Martinez Chiringuito TV have reported that the ex-Ajax ace has been offered to Atletico Madrid. There has been no mention of an asking price, but it is clear that the La Liga giants are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements. 🚨 LISANDRO MARTÍNEZ ha sido OFRECIDO al ATLÉTICO DE MADRID. ✍️ El jugador acaba contrato con el Manchester United en 2027. ℹ️ @inakivdl pic.twitter.com/CgwzU6hY7Z — El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) July 13, 2026 The chance to play under Argentine legend Diego Simeone would be another major draw for Lisandro Martinez. His current market value stands at £34 million, and should the Spanish side offer such a fee, it might be difficult for the 20-time English league champions to turn them down. How will Carrick cope explained The Erik ten Hag signing excels at building play from deep and with his no-nonsense style of defending, but United can ill afford another injury breakdown or frequent suspensions. So far, no concrete proposals have arrived on United’s desk, so it is clearly intermediaries at work. It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds in the coming weeks. INEOS will need player sales to balance the books, and United already have Ayden Heaven champing at the bit to start games consistently. Feature image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25