According to reports from Manchester Evening News, Chelsea are the mystery club who beat Manchester United’s initial offer for teenage striker Anthony Martial this summer.
The French sensation has made a scintillating start to his Old Traford career after joining the Red Devils for an initial £36million on summer deadline day, bagging four goals in six appearances across all competitions – including a Premier League return of three goals in three starts.
French journalist Philippe Auclair claimed United’s monolithic bid for the 19 year-old had left ‘people speechless in France‘ – especially after it was revealed the France international’s move could eventually cost the Red Devils a staggering £58million due to performance-related add-ons.
Last week, however, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev revealed that a mystery club had in fact offered more than United’s initial £36million fee.
He said; “There was another club that offered even more than United. I will not say how much, but the fixed price – without variables – it was even better. And also they offered us to have him for a further year in Monaco. But the boy wanted to go to Manchester, it was his dream. We let him go with the bonus of €30 million. Had it not been for so much money, he’d have stayed.”
There has been plenty of speculation throughout the media since, with some pointing to La Liga Real Madrid. But according to Manchester Evening News, the mystery club in question was in fact Premier League champions Chelsea.
MEN claim Martial’s decision to snub the Blues is retribution for the many young talents Chelsea beat United to during Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure, namely Arjen Robben, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Eden Hazard – all of whom claimed Premier League titles with the north Londoners.
Would Chelsea be doing better this season if they’d signed Martial? Comment below!
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Five formidable forwards linked with January moves to Arsenal
Arsenal boss reveals why he didn’t bid for superb Man United signing
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