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Football

07th Sep 2018

Sam Allardyce didn’t hold back with his opinion on Anthony Martial

The club is prepared to offer Martial an improved contract

Darragh Murphy

allardyce

Anthony Martial isn’t leaving Manchester United any time soon by the looks of things.

Martial was said to be the reason for the rumoured rift between Jose Mourinho and Ed Woodward, with the latter expecting big things of the French forward but the former content to part ways with Martial.

Reports claim that negotiations are underway to tie Martial down to a long-term contract at Old Trafford, despite the fact that the 22-year-old has made just one appearance for the Red Devils this term.

Mourinho clearly doesn’t see Martial as a first-team player but the club seems intent on offering the forward a deal which would keep him at the club until 2023.

Plenty of United fans still have faith in Martial, who moved to United for £36 million in 2015, but former England manager Sam Allardyce is not so sure.

Allardyce remains unconvinced of the value of Martial, insisting that he’s not yet proven himself worthy of a contract extension.

“I’m very surprised if they have offered him a five-year contract in all honesty,” Allardyce said on talkSPORT.

“The lad is in his fourth season at Manchester United and I don’t think anybody would actually say he has delivered consistently.

“We’ve seen the odd flash of his brilliance, but by now he should be showing that brilliance on a more regular basis.

“He should be hitting top form more often than not.

“He’s had two managers now and both managers have found it difficult to find him a regular place in the Man United side.”

Martial was linked with a move away from United in the summer after his agent announced that his time at United had come to an end but no clubs were prepared to meet his valuation.