As Barcelona scour the market for defensive reinforcements, AFC Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez has emerged as one of the club’s priority targets, reports Mundo Deportivo.

The 24-year-old arrived at the club from Amsterdam in 2019 from Argentina side Defensa y Justicia and has become a key player for the Eredivisie champions.

To date, Martinez has made 120 appearances for Ajax, with even six goals and assists each. He also has six caps for the Argentina national team.

One of the reasons why Barcelona find the 24-year-old so attractive is the fact that he is a left-footed centre-back. While Samuel Umtiti and Clément Lenglet should leave, the Blaugrana will be without a left center half in his team.

That’s why Martinez has become a key target for Barca. Apart from that, the defender’s versatility also appeals to the Catalan giants.

The Ajax ace can comfortably slot in at left-back and function as a defensive midfielder, meaning he could replace Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets when needed. At the same time, his salary wouldn’t be above Barcelona’s means either, making him an attractive target.

With his contract running until the summer of 2025, hefty transfer fees could be involved. However, the report adds that Ajax would be willing to accept some young players from Barcelona as part of the deal.

Although no specific names were mentioned in the report, the Dutch giants had been linked with a loan move for Alejandro Balde during the January transfer window.

Lisandro Martinez is a player who could prove to be a great acquisition for Barcelona in the immediate and long term. So it remains to be seen if it’s possible for such a deal to happen this summer.