Monaco's Martial in talks with Man Utd
Monaco forward Anthony Martial has been given permission by France coach Didier Deschamps "to travel to England to sign a contract with Manchester United", the French Football Federation announced on Monday.
The 19-year-old striker was given an international call-up for the first time by Deschamps for the friendly games against Portugal and Serbia.
Martial, who joined Monaco in 2013 from Lyon, has slowly risen up the French international ranks having played at all youth levels.
Barely 24 hours left in the summer transfer window, an astronomical fee, a relative unknown on English shores - small wonder Manchester United's proposed signing of Anthony Martial has raised more than a few eyebrows.
Yes the fee is reported to be around the €50m mark - at least. Yes the Parisian forward has played fewer than 50 top-flight matches in France and has only 10 senior league goals to his credit.
But Martial, at 19 years of age, is considered France's next great superstar. United's handling of the deal might be described as desperate, late, even clumsy, but they are buying themselves a player of outstanding potential.
Such is his quality, Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim reportedly threatened to resign if the forward, who signed a contract running until 2019 in June to ward off Tottenham's interest, is sold.
It is not without good reason that he is considered the next Thierry Henry.
Like many of France’s brightest young stars, he is a graduate of the Lyon youth academy, where he signed up as a 14-year-old. Yet for once his talent was squandered by the Stade Gerland outfit, who sold him to Monaco for €5 million plus bonuses little over a year ago amid competition from Juventus.
Since arriving in the principality, his talents – recognised in the national set-up since playing at Under-16 level - have become increasing obvious to a wider audience. Dimitar Berbatov was the first victim of the quick attacker, who established himself as a regular starter a week before his 19th birthday at the expense of the former United man.
Athletic, strong and technically gifted, Martial quickly won the backing of head coach Jardim, whose rather pragmatic style suited the young Frenchman over the languid Bulgarian.
And it proved a shrewd move, as the youngster finished the campaign with eight goals in his final 12 appearances.
Having replaced Berbatov at Stade Louis II, he now hopes to fare rather better than his former team-mate at Old Trafford.