Manchester United confident Anthony Martial will sign new contract as striker eyes success under Jose Mourinho

Striking deal | Martial rejected a contract extension last summer
AP

Manchester United are confident Anthony Martial is ready to commit his future to Old Trafford, despite rejecting their latest offer of a new five-year contract.

But United may have to top the deal they just handed to Luke Shaw, which is believed to be worth in excess of £150,000-a-week.

Martial has indicated he wants to extend his stay at the club - but United’s hierarchy are aware they have set a precedent by making Shaw one of the highest paid defenders in the world.

Martial is still considered among the brightest attacking talents in Europe, despite struggling to establish himself under Jose Mourinho, and his representatives are seeking a package to reflect that.

Shaw’s five-year extension , signed last week, has set a new benchmark at Old Trafford that will be used by agents in future negotiations.

United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward already demonstrated his commitment to Martial by tabling a new contract even after Mourinho was prepared to sell the 22-year-old in the summer.

He already plans to trigger a 12-month option, which will keep the Frenchman at the club until 2020 - but United want to resolve his future before he enters his final year.

Allowing Shaw’s future to drift into its final months applied the pressure during negotiations with his representatives, with United desperate not to lose the 23-year-old for nothing at the end of the season.

Woodward and head of corporate development Matt Judge, who conducts contract negotiations, will also be conscious of Martial’s rising value if he maintains the form he has produced in recent weeks.

The £36m signing from Monaco has scored three goals in his last two Premier League starts.

In Pictures | Manchester United vs Juventus | 23/10/2018

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That he is currently keeping United’s highest paid player Alexis Sanchez – believed to be on around £400,000-a-week - out of the team is also notable.

Despite asking for a transfer in the summer, Martial showed his affection for the club by pointing to his badge during celebrations as he scored twice against Chelsea on Saturday.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Afterwards he dismissed talk of a rift with Mourinho - even after being fined for going AWOL following the birth of his child in the summer.

Asked if relations had thawed between the two, he said: "Come on - things were not tense between us to begin with!

“We have a player-coach relationship and I hope that we will continue like that and bring Manchester United as much [success] as possible.”

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