Anthony Martial fee: 'Add-on' includes Manchester United signing winning the Ballon d'Or

Initial fee of £36m could rise to as much as £58m

Anthony Martial in his new Manchester United shirt (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United's optimism over Anthony Martial's potential was not in doubt - paying £36m for the 19-year-old French striker was evidence enough of that.

But just to ramp up expectations around the deadline-day arrival from Monaco a little more, it's been revealed that one of the many 'add-ons' to the deal includes Martial winning the Fifa Ballon d'Or, the prize for being the best player in Europe.

Should Martial, who two years ago left Lyon for just £4m, achieve everything Manchester United hope he will do, his fee will rise to a whopping £58m.

That would make the teenager the second most expensive signing in British transfer history, just shy of the £59.7m United paid for Angel Di Maria.

Van Gaal said of Martial: "Anthony is a naturally talented, young, multi-functional forward with great potential. He has all the attributes to become a top football player, but we need to give him time to adjust to his new environment."