Manchester United stole march on Chelsea to complete £58m deal for Anthony Martial- Anthony Martial has signed for Manchester United from Monaco
- The initial fee is £36million but could rise to £58m with add-ons
- Chelsea were among the clubs interested in the 19-year-old
- But no other club was prepared to match United's huge offer
Manchester United were one of three European giants who had been closely monitoring the progress of Anthony Martial for some time but they did not declare their hand until issuing the first bid on Sunday evening.The French club had been determined to keep Martial for at least one more season.
That was the plan, although the defeat to Valencia last week in the Champions League play-off clearly had some impact on their way of thinking.
When United made their move and sensed Monaco might do business, they refused to take no for an answer, adding on bonuses until an agreement was struck.
Although Old Trafford sources insist the fee is £36million, those closer to the Principality claim the add-ons could take the package as high as £58m.They rejected an offer of £20m from Tottenham earlier in the summer and Martial signed an improved five-year contract.They knew when he left it would be for one of Europe’s biggest clubs – and for much more money.
Monaco expect to receive 90 per cent of the add-ons from Manchester United.They also expect the other two big clubs to be unhappy, having been assured Martial would not be sold this summer.
Chelsea are thought to be one – but one thing is clear - no other club was ready to bid anything like what United did for the 19-year-old.
For Monaco, it was a deal they could not refuse and another gold star for their impressive scouting system.
This summer they have banked big money from selling Geoffrey Kondogbia to Inter Milan, Layvin Kurzawa to PSG, Aymen Abdennour to Valencia and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, to Atletico Madrid.
Last year, James Rodriguez was sold to Real Madrid for £63m.
They are a French equivalent of Southampton blending a strong academy with an efficient productive scouting system which targets young players.
Riccardo Pecini, the chief scout responsible for recommending both Martial and Kondogbia, left Monaco last year to join Sampdoria.
Martial was signed two years ago from Lyon, who can expect around £7m as their sell-on from the deal, although the teenager was by no means a secret.
He was widely regarded as the most-talented French prospect in his age group.
Lyon were in financial meltdown and had to cash-in one player in a hurry at the end of June 2013.
They wanted to sell Bafetimbi Gomis and agreed fees with Cardiff and Swansea but the centre-forward refused to move.
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could rise to £58m with add-ons
