The French striker was set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
However, Jose Mourinho has made sure Martial won’t be falling into the hands of rivals for nothing after instructing the club to take up the automatic extension in his current deal.
Talks are ongoing with the former Monaco man over a new five-year contract.
But there is yet to be a breakthrough in negotiations amid fears Martial may decide to quit Old Trafford next summer.
And tying the 23-year-old down for a further year means any interested parties will have to pay a hefty fee for his services.
It marks a represents a huge U-turn by Mourinho, who tried to offload Martial in the last transfer window.
He reportedly clashed with club chiefs after they refused to sanction the ace’s exit.
But Martial has worked his way back into Mourinho’s first-team plans this term after dire performances in the previous campaign saw him miss out on a place in France’s World Cup-winnig squad.
Martial joins David De Gea in having his contract extended by a further year, but there are doubts over the futures of Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Phil Jones and Ashley Young, who can talk with foreign clubs over a free switch next month.
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