Rohan Sengupta
Manchester United are planning to hold fresh contract talks with Anthony Martial, according to reports. The Frenchman has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in January and has started just one of United’s past four matches.
Arsenal reportedly enquired about the 22-year-old’s availability during negotiations over Sanchez’s transfer in the winter transfer window but United knocked back the Gunners’ request and instead allowed Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan to leave the club in exchange for the Chilean.
Despite Jose Mourinho keeping hold of Martial, the 22-year-old has found game time hard to come by. The winger’s wobbly situation at Old Trafford has alerted Juventus, who remain interested in signing the player.
Now, ESPN report that United are planning to offer Martial fresh contract and are willing to secure his future at the club. The French international has 15 months to run on the four-year deal he signed when he moved to United from AS Monaco in 2015 for £36m, with the Premier League giants holding an option to extend it by another 12 months.
The report adds that United had opened discussions late last year and although no breakthrough was made, the club is now confident that Martial will sign a new deal when talks restart. The forward became an instant hit in his first season at Old Trafford but endured an underwhelming campaign in Mourinho’s first term in charge and was linked with a move away from the club.
But the Portuguese kept his faith in Martial and the 22-year-old has repaid it this season by scoring 9 goals and supplying 5 assists in 26 appearances.
Juventus have ear-marked the Frenchman as a primary target for the summer transfer window as they look to bolster their attacking department.
But given Martial’s talent and potential, and the way he has impressed this season, Mourinho is highly unlikely to let the winger leave the club in summer. This means that Juventus may well have to look elsewhere for a talented new young gun.
However, Martial is expected to seek assurances about his role during the contract talks before putting pen to paper.
Come what may, we have to just secure Martial’s future as he is one of the gifted youngsters across Europe and is expected to win the Ballon d’Or in the near future.
