Jose Mourinho ‘rules out selling Anthony Martial to Premier League rival’

Manchester United have reportedly ruled out the possibility of selling winger Anthony Martial to a Premier League rival amid interest from Chelsea.

Martial is eager to leave Old Trafford this summer due to a lack of first-team football under Mourinho last term, but the United boss recently suggested that he may not be allowed to depart.

However, The Guardian now claims that Mourinho has softened his stance and is open to exploring the possibility of a sale if Martial is adamant that he wants to leave.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to Mourinho’s former club Chelsea, but United are reluctant to sell him to a direct Premier League rival and would prefer to let him go to a European club.

Martial has just one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, but United have the option to extend that deal by a further 12 months, which would increase the France international’s market value.

The domestic transfer window closes on August 9, but English clubs can still sell players to other European clubs until the end of the month in most cases, while the deadline in France does not close until mid-September.