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Manchester United transfer news: United and Real Madrid eyeing £52million Sporting Lisbon ace Gelson Martins

Jose Mourinho and Zinedine Zidane monitoring 21-year-old who earns just £2,000-a-week, despite mammoth by-out clause

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MANCHESTER UNITED and Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on Gelson Martins, according to reports in Portugal.

The 21-year-old Sporting Lisbon winger has impressed this season, scoring twice and creating five assists.

Sporting's forward Gelson Martins celebrates a goal during the Portuguese league football match Sporting CP vs Moreirense FC at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on September 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRAPATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images
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Gelson Martins is generating interest from Real Madrid and Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images

The departure of Joao Mario to Inter Milan has allowed Martins to step into his own — with boss Jorge Jesus even claiming: “In Portugal, there is no one like him.”

And claim that that form has led to interest from both United and Real Madrid.

Martins impressed at the Bernabeu as Sporting came close to causing a major Champions League upset and is expected to soon earn his first cap for Portugal.

Football Soccer - Inter Milan v Juventus - Serie A - San Siro, Milan, Italy - 18/9/16 Inter Milan's Joao Mario in action with Juventus' Miralem Pjanic Reuters / Giorgio Perottino Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.
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Joao Mario's departure to Inter Milan has allowed Gelson Martins to growCredit: Reuters
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Marcelo of Real Madrid CF controls the ball beside Gelson Martins of Sporting Clube de Portugal during the UEFA Champions League match between XXX and XXX at Bernabeu on September 14, 2016 in Madrid, . (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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Gelson Martins challenges Marcelo during Champions League battle at BernabeuCredit: Getty Images


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epa05533810 Sporting's Gelson Martins (L) scores the 1-0 lead against Moreirense's goalkeeper Giorgi Makaridze (R) during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Sporting Lisbon and Moreirense FC at Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 10 September 2016. EPA/MARIO CRUZ
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Gelson Martins has scored twice and provided five assists so far this seasonCredit: LUSA
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United looks on Northampton Town and Manchester United at Sixfields on September 21, 2016 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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Jose Mourinho is still trying to build his own team at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images
Football Soccer - Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League group stage - Group F - Signal Iduna Park stadium, Dortmund, Germany - 27/09/16 - Real Madrid's coach Zinedine Zidane reacts REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
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Zinedine Zidane has only bought one player since taking over as Real Madrid bossCredit: Reuters

Despite currently earning less than £2,000-a-week — which ten times less than Real Madrid pay Martin Odegaard — on a contract which expires in 2021, he already has a mammoth £52million buy-out clause.

Unsurprisingly, the Portuguese club are preparing to offer him a new deal.

Real Madrid tried to bring Martins to their Castilla academy two years ago — but were told in no uncertain terms there would be no deal by Sporting.

Jose Mourinho is still trying to build his own team at Old Trafford, and will be keen to bring in players from his homeland.

While Zinedine Zidane is desperate for re-enforcement after a relatively quiet summer where Alvaro Morata was the only incoming.

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