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
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.
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.
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.