Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho hints Anthony Martial will not join Arsenal

Tom Doyle16 January 2018

Jose Mourinho has given the clearest indication yet that Manchester United are determined to keep Anthony Martial rather than use him in a potential deal for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez.

Standard Sport understands that United have edged ahead of Manchester City in the race to sign Arsenal forward Sanchez because they are willing to offer both options of a higher cash sum or a player as part of any deal.

Arsenal were holding out for up to £40million but are expected to agree to a figure between £30m-£35m and while City have stalled, United showed willing to outbid their local rivals but also, significantly, include a player as a possible makeweight.

United are open to allowing Henrikh Mkhitaryan to move in the other direction and it is believed Wenger wants to explore Martial’s availability - but the French forward started for United against Stoke on Monday night, with Mkhitaryan not included at all.

When asked about Mkhitaryan's omission, Mourinho replied: "I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision."

Mourinho went on to suggest that he was only starting players on Monday who were committed to United, saying: "It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100 per cent their heads in Manchester United.

"No doubts about the future. I don't think it's easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future.

"It's added pressure that a player doesn't need, so I think it's the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him."

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