LIONS LOSE DECIDER SEE PAGES 62&63

UNITED have given Tottenham short shrift following an enquiry for Anthony Martial.

Martial’s agent revealed earlier this month the 22-year-old wants to leave United but the M.E.N. understands the club has quoted Tottenham ‘silly prices’ for a player they signed for an initial £36m in 2015.

The fee for Martial rose to £44.4m last year after his 25th United goal against Burnley triggered an additional £8.4m payment. United agreed a fee rising up to £56m with Monaco and value Martial well in excess of that figure in the current market.

United’s brusque response to Spurs was inevitable after the two clubs failed to reach an agreement in talks over Toby Alderweireld. United opened negotiations with Tottenham in May with the intention of concluding a £55m deal for the 29-year-old but Spurs are holding out for considerably more. Sources say Martial and Alderweireld’s situations ‘could rumble on and on’, with the Belgian refusing to sign a new Tottenham contract. The transfer window for Premier League clubs to sign players closes on August 9.

Despite United’s stance, Jose Mourinho has said his policy is that if a player agitates he ‘will never stop a player from leaving, even if it is to a rival’.

Both Alderweireld and Martial are technically out of contract next year but their deals include one-year options. Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino’s admiration of Martial dates back to three years ago just before he joined United on transfer deadline day.

Martial signed a new contract with Monaco earlier that summer amid interest from Spurs, but United saw off competition from Chelsea to sign the France international.

UNITED SPECIAL/ PAGES 60-61