Lisandro Martinez set for pay-rise as Kompany's warning to Wout Weghorst emerges

Manchester United is planning to give Lisandro Martinez a hefty wage increase in order to ensure his future after the Argentine's outstanding first season with the club.

Martinez's first two matches in English football drew harsh criticism from both fans and commentators, many of whom thought he was too little to succeed in the Premier League.

He swiftly addressed that specific criticism and went on to become one of the top defenders in the Premier League.

Martinez was signed by United from Ajax for just under £60 million, and in the process, they had to fend off interest from Arsenal. The World Cup winner currently earns £120,000 per week at Old Trafford.

But those in charge of United are eager to reward Martinez by giving him a better salary package that would boost his pay by £50,000.

Although a pay raise is soon to come, Martinez's present contract has four more years before it expires, so there are no intentions to persuade him to sign a new one.

Manager Erik ten Hag is rumored to have approved of the concept as a gesture to acknowledge Martinez's significance to the United team.

Since Martinez broke his metatarsal during the 2-2 Europa League draw against Real Betis last month, he has been sidelined for the duration of the season, leaving the Red Devils without their top defender.

Martinez has already cemented his position in the hearts of the United supporters, and this pay raise is a tribute to the Argentinean's outstanding season, despite the setback due to injury.

Speaking after news of his season-ending injury, Martinez took to Instagram to update fans as he wrote: "Not the way I imagined what’s been a very special season would end, but sometimes we face obstacles along the way that we have to overcome to make us stronger and we learn from them."

"I know that I’ll be back soon to go for more. In the meantime, I’ll continue to support my team-mates to achieve our objectives.

"The messages and support I’ve received has been amazing, they’re giving me strength and encouragement. Thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart."

Martinez will strive to advance and get better even more as United looks to launch a title challenge in the following year, though his teammate's primary focus will undoubtedly be on securing Champions League status this year.

Kompany's warning to Wout Weghorst emerges ahead of Burnley return

This summer, Burnley will be happy to welcome Wout Weghorst back, but only if he's totally committed to supporting Vincent Kompany's Clarets revolution.

After the FA Cup Final between rivals City and Manchester United on June 3, Kompany plans to speak with the Dutch striker, who will turn 31 in August and is currently on loan at Manchester United.

“He’s a player from Burnley football club who has played in the top four of the Premier League for Manchester United and also for Holland” says Kompany.

“The most important thing for me – and it’s a tough one for me to say obviously because of the Cup Final – is for him personally to finish the season on a high. But still, I want him to do well and we will have the conversation.”

After his struggles in front of goal, Weghorst's five-month loan at Old Trafford is unlikely to turn into a permanent arrangement.

The six-foot-six-inch Holland international played in 27 games for Erik ten Hag, but after scoring nine goals for Besiktas in the first half of the season, he failed to score for them in the Premier League.

Weghorst, who cost Burnley £12 million when he was acquired from Wolfsburg fifteen months prior, informed the club that he didn't want to play in the Championship and left on loan to Turkey before being brought back by United in January.

Even though Weghorst has struggled to score goals for United, Ten Hag has been impressed by his ability to press and drop deeper with good link play. The striker has been criticized by an ex-United defender who said he "doesn't offer anything" despite these qualities not impressing pundits.

"I just think Man Utd’s No.10, a top team's No.10 doesn’t look like a Weghorst in my eyes," he said after last weekend's defeat at West Ham. "The no.10 shirt means something else, it’s a player that can create, has got guile, can get between the lines and get on the half turn and bring other people into play in that sense and get goals.

"He doesn’t offer all those things I’ve just said there... I think his best piece of play today was a tackle in his own box. That’s a no.10 – that’s not what no.10s are known for doing."

Kompany is eager to reintegrate Weghorst into the team since experienced Burnley striker Ashley Barnes left Turf Moor after the team's promotion. Weghorst insists that his loan team has not contacted him and that they want to release him at the conclusion of the season.

"In those [talks] the club said they are very satisfied with me,” he told The Times after the West Ham game. “It has absolutely not been communicated with me that Man United don’t want to continue with me.

“They appreciate my value. They believe I am absolutely an asset for the team. Of course I have heard different things [in the media]. I have to wait and see what happens and focus on our goals in the league and cup competitions.’”