Man United target £60m PSG star – but they want Martial in return

Joe Williams

Manchester United’s pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has been complicated by the French club’s insistence that they want to include Anthony Martial in the deal, according to reports.

Reports have suggested that the Red Devils are close to a deal for Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic but their £50million demands could yet scupper a deal.

In which case the Daily Mirror report that Jose Mourinho is now targeting a deal for Verratti with Barcelona ‘cooling their interest’ in the Italy international.

However, United negotiator Ed Woodward is understood to have hit issues in a potential deal with PSG insisting that Anthony Martial goes to Paris as part of the deal.

The report continues by saying that United will continue negotiations despite having no interest in letting go of the former Monaco striker.

Verratti changed agents this summer and now Mino Raiola – who brokered moves to United for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku – will handle his negotiations.

Barcelona is thought to be Verratti’s first choice but a move to United is not out of the question, according to the Daily Mirror.