Manchester United round-up: Bale move update; Martial part of Mourinho’s plans; Shaw going nowhere

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In sensational news, Spanish newspaper Marca report that Zinedine Zidane is open to the idea of selling forward Gareth Bale in order to make room for Monaco ace Kylian Mbappe. They say that United are the most interested party in the Welsh international, with Chelsea also tracking the situation.

A move for the forward could cost as much as €100 million (£90.3 million) and would represent a major transfer that would narrowly exceed Paul Pogba’s club record fee last summer due to changes in the exchange rate. However, Bale is believed to have been a long term target for the Red Devils.

Such a move may have a substantial impact on the future of Anthony Martial, but for now Jose Mourinho is insistent that the Frenchman will form part of his squad in 2017/18. The boss is quoted by the Metro, responding directly to a question on Martial’s future by saying:

“Everybody is in the plan. The plan is to have a good squad, not just a good team. [We need] options because we have important players injured for a long time… It’s going to be good, to be funny, to choose the team for every match according to the plan or the opponent. So the squad is good.”

The former Monaco man failed to earn a regular first team spot under Mourinho last season and questions were raised over whether the club would cash in this summer. It looks as though a move away may not be imminent given these declarations, though.

The situation is the same for defender Luke Shaw, but the Independent believe that Mourinho has been impressed by his attitude as he seeks to overcome injury. Not expected to be back fit until September, it’s thought that Mourinho will give the left-back another chance in the first team when he is back in action.

It looks likely that Shaw has now convinced his manager that he has what it takes. With a World Cup on the horizon in 2018 he will be determined to make a case for himself to Gareth Southgate in an attempt to be included in the squad travelling to Russia.