Anthony Martial is on the brink of signing a new five-year contract extension with Manchester United, according to Sky Sports.

The young Frenchman has been a crucial player for United this season, and the board have been desperate to tie him down to a new deal. However, he previously rejected all offers and he looked set to leave the club last summer. The club were forced to trigger a one-year extension clause in his contract, meaning he would be forced to remain at the club till at least the summer of 2020.

A falling out with former manager Jose Mourinho was the source of his problems. The Portuguese is known to prefer attacking players who are also willing to track back. Martial simply is not that kind of player. The 23-year-old was also fined after leaving the club’s pre-season tour to attend the birth of his child, but not informing the club of when he would return.

The pair just did not see eye to eye. Rumors also emerged last summer that Martial would only consider a new contract after getting some clarity on Mourinho’s future. His agent even came out and publicly stated that his client would leave if things under the manager did not change.

Following Mourinho’s eventual sacking, it became evident that Martial might reconsider his future at the club. If the latest reports are anything to go by, then he most certainly has.  Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival has lifted the mood at United and has a number of key players smiling again. Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford have been in sublime form of late, compared to their struggles just last month. The effect seems to have rubbed off on Martial too, at least from a mental standpoint.

Despite their differences, Martial became a crucial player for Mourinho in his final days. The Frenchman’s goals arguably kept in a job longer than he should have been, simply delaying the inevitable. It even forced the former boss to change his mind about the young forward, who suddenly wanted him to stay.

United know that him and Rashford are the future of the football club. They simply cannot allow either of them to leave. Hence, news that Martial is now ready to commit his long-term future to the club will be music to their ears.