Manchester United Transfer News: Anthony Martial Snubbed Higher Chelsea Offer

Chelsea reportedly offered more money for the services of Manchester United’s new No. 9, Anthony Martial, during the summer transfer window, but the striker preferred a move to the Theatre of Dreams.

According to the Twitter account of French football show Enquetes De Foot (h/t Anthony Hay of the MailOnline), the champions were ready to strike a deal worth more than the whopping £58 million the former Monaco man may eventually cost the Red Devils: “According to our information, Chelsea had proposed more money than Manchester United for Anthony Martial, but the player dreamed of the Red Devils.”

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Since joining United, Martial has been a big hit. The youngster has scorched his way around Old Trafford in the early weeks of his nascent Red Devils career, scoring goals, terrorising defenders and showcasing a maturity that belies his tender years.

As noted by WhoScored.com, the 19-year-old has a cold composure in front of goal:

Chelsea fans, while they may have initially mocked United’s decision to part with so much money for a player who was relatively unknown in England, will be a little disappointed the France international didn’t pick them.

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After all, while Diego Costa is a brutish, battering ram of a centre-forward at his best, the Blues have looked short of cutting edge at the sharp end of the pitch with the Spain international a little off colour. Martial, as has been evident during his first outings in United red, is a vibrant player who would have been able to provide this coveted incision.

There’s definitely a fearlessness about the teenager with the ball at his feet, which was something picked up on recently by football writer Liam Canning:

It’s doubtful Martial would have made quite as significant an impact at Stamford Bridge. United manager Louis van Gaal only has Wayne Rooney to call upon in terms of senior centre-forward options, and consequently, the former Monaco starlet has been thrown in at the deep end at Old Trafford. 

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So far, he’s relishing the responsibility, but it’ll be a challenge to preserve those levels moving forward, as Bleacher Report’s Paul Ansorge noted:

At Chelsea, young players have struggled to develop under the gaze of manager Jose Mourinho, and you suspect Martial would have been playing second fiddle to Costa, even if the Blues had parted with a massive amount of money to bring him in. However, the lure of Old Trafford ultimately proved too strong for the youngster.

Whether Martial will be enriched or inhibited by being thrust into the United team so early will make for intriguing viewing, as some stars who have previously played such a key role in their teenage years—such as Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Fernando Torres—burned out prematurely. Still, at this juncture, the signs are the Frenchman's signing will be a massive coup for United.