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Martial 'agrees shock transfer and biggest contract in club's history'

Anthony Martial has reportedly agreed a record-breaking contract with a European club.

The striker has been a free agent since leaving Manchester United upon the expiry of his contract after a nine-year stint at Old Trafford. 

He has been linked with numerous clubs - including Flamengo in Brazil - but is reportedly on the verge of signing a deal closer to home. 

Greek outlet SPORT24 reports that he is exchanging final documents with AEK Athens for a three-year contract, while Spain's Relevo claims he has verbally agreed a move.

Martial is in line to earn £2.5million per season with AEK and the deal would have been announced on Monday night if not for a delay, as per SPORT24. 

Anthony Martial is reportedly on the verge of sealing a three-year contract with AEK Athens

That deal, amounting to £7.5m in total including bonuses, would be the most lucrative in AEK's history. 

The three-year guarantee will have been persuasive as Martial's talks with Flamengo reportedly broke down due to his insistence on that contract length.

Martial has been keeping himself fit over the summer, posting a photo of himself on an exercise bike, holidaying with his family, and going on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in France, writing on Instagram: 'Thank you Lord for everything.' 

It had also been reported that clubs such as Lille, Atalanta, Marseille, Besiktas were interested in the 28-year-old. 

Were he to join AEK, Martial would link up with ex-Tottenham star Erik Lamela, Watford throwbacks Roberto Pereyra and Nordin Amrabat, and former Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.

Lamela is reportedly the club's top earner currently on a deal worth a reported €2million (£1.7million) per year.

AEK were also in line to loan in David Datro Fofana from Chelsea but that collapsed and he has since joined Turkish side Goztepe for the season. 

Despite AEK busting the bank, Martial would be taking a sizeable pay cut from his terms at Manchester United, having been on £250,000 per week.   

The Greek side had been hoping to announce the transfer during their 2-0 win over Volos on Monday night but some details still need to be ironed out. 

Martial will look forward to a competitive season with AEK after they finished just two points off title winners PAOK last campaign.

However, there will be no European football to whet his appetite after they were dumped out of the third qualifying round for the Europa Conference League by Armenian side Noah in August. 

Source: dailymail.co.uk

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1 day ago - Martial, 28, is a free agent after leaving Manchester United and is understood to have agreed a three year contract with his new club, who finished second in their league last season.
2 weeks ago - INSIDE THE MAN UNITED CAMP, BY CHRIS WHEELER: On the way into the boardroom at Old Trafford, there is a Manchester United opus bound in red leather lying on a table.
1 week ago - Flamengo have reportedly walked away talks with former Manchester United star Anthony Martial. The forward left Old Trafford when his United deal came to an end in the summer. 
1 month ago - Martial scored 90 goals in 317 games during his nine seasons as a Manchester United player before being released at the end of June. Six of those goals came in the UEFA Champions League.
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