Manchester United transfer news: Anthony Martial's agent 'very pessimistic' over contract talks

The club have been engaged in talks with Martial for some time but despite Monday's extension the two parties remain a long way apart in negotiations

Anthony Martial's agent is "very pessimistic" over contract talks with Manchester United despite the club triggering a one-year extension on Monday.

The 23-year-old's deal was due to expire in the summer but United's option meant there was never a realistic prospect of him leaving the club for nothing with the France international now tied to the club until 2020.

Last month, United made a similar move to extend goalkeeper David De Gea's commitment to the club for a further 12 months.

The club have been engaged in talks with Martial for some time but despite Monday's extension his agent, Philippe Lamboley, says the two parties remain a long way apart in negotiations.

"I am very pessimistic about discussions going positively," he told RMC. "They've already sent us several offers that do not meet our expectations, starting on bases very far from our wishes. We are far from agreement for the time being."

After a summer in which he appeared poised to leave the club, Martial has re-established himself in Jose Mourinho's plans and is United's top scorer with eight goals.

Martial was fined a week's wages in August after flying home from United's pre-season tour to attend the birth of his child, and growing tension between the player and Mourinho led to strong speculation he would be sold.

But United were keen to retain a player in whom they invested an initial £36million - potentially rising as high as £58million - when they signed him as a teenager from Monaco in 2015.