Man United won’t stand in the way of Anthony Martial if he wants to move this summer, but there is boardroom level resistance to him moving to Tottenham, according to the Telegraph.
It is said that United want to keep him and are ready to activate a clause in his contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2020.
However, Jose Mourinho doesn’t want a player in his squad who is unhappy and if Martial asks to leave United may open the door on a potential £55million move.
The report claims that Tottenham believe that he wants to hook up with Mauricio Pochettino.
Good move for Tottenham?
Without a doubt. Martial is a seriously talented young attacker but he seems to have lost his way at United, as so many other players seem to. The 22-year-old signed for £54million from Monaco in 2015 but he only started 18 Premier League games last season and that seems like a real waste of talent. He still scored nine goals and registered five assists in 30 total league appearances, but there’s a feeling that he should be delivering much, much more. Despite already winning 18 caps for World Cup winners France, Martial didn’t make the squad this summer for Didier Deschamps’ side and that would have come as a real body blow. He is reportedly unhappy at spending so much time on the bench and that’s hardly surprising. He must look at the Tottenham side and dream of what he could do in the same attacking line-up. Tottenham fans will be thinking the same.
This is Futbol rating: 9/10
Likely to happen?
Unfortunately not. If there’s resistance at board level then it seems that United will be unlikely to sell to such a direct Premier League rival. United finished second in the league last season and won’t want Tottenham encroaching on them thanks to goals from Martial. However, if he asks to leave, which seems possible, and Tottenham are the only side to come in for him, then it could get interesting.
This is Futbol rating: 4/10