Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are reportedly interested in a move for Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, according to Spanish publication AS.

The Argentina international is currently in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford and a move away from Michael Carrick's side appears to be on the cards.

Martinez's deal does expire at the end of this current season but the Red Devils do have the option to extend it by a further year.

Given United will be looking to transform their backline over the next couple of transfer windows, adding an extra 12 months to the defender's contract would help them recoup a fee for the former Ajax player rather than losing him for nothing.

Martinez's future is hot topic at present following his recent attack on the club's hierarchy as he criticised the lack of investment in the squad back in the summer.

Amid the real possibility of a transfer away, AS report that Atletico and Barcelona are keen on a move for the 28-year-old as they plan for the future.

Interest from Atleti does not come as a shock with fellow countryman Diego Simeone in charge of Colchoneros.

Simeone currently has four Argentina internationals as part of his squad, with Juan Musso, Cristian Romero, Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone the quartet in question.

In a recent interview on the Edul Brothers' YouTube channel, Romero made his transfer wish clear as he namechecked Argentina centre-back partner Martinez when he was asked which player he would like to bring to Atletico Madrid.

However, it is not just the Spanish giants who are eyeing up Martinez ahead of next year.

AS also claim that Italian trio Inter Milan, Roma and Como are also interested in the centre-back.

Lisandro Martinez's Man Utd career in numbers

The start of a defensive overhaul

Manchester United technical director Jason Wilcox has a lot of work to do when it comes to transforming the team's backline.

An exit for Martinez could be the start of a number of transfer outgoings as they look to build for the future.

Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are United's other options at centre-back currently.

Carrick's team need to improve their right-back options with Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui vying it out at present, while the same goes at left-back as Luke Shaw lacks competition and Patrick Dorgu has been used slightly further forward at times.

Martinez mentioned a lack of investment in the squad in his recent outburst and that is one thing the club need to put right as they look to take their backline to the next level over the next couple of transfer windows.