One of the forgotten men among Manchester United’s current crop of talent, Anthony Martial’s future at the club appears increasingly uncertain with the Frenchman having slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Just over six years on from his goalscoring debut against Liverpool, the former Monaco man looks destined for the exit door, having lost his place in the side due to both injury and loss of form.
The 25-year-old had found his game time limited after enduring a dismal 2020/21 campaign in which he scored just four Premier League goals, having netted career-best figure of 23 goals in all competitions a season earlier.
The arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo have further hindered his hopes of first-team football, while persistent injuries have hampered his involvement in 2021, with a departure either in January – or next summer – seemingly on the cards to help kickstart his career.
Everton – 25/1
Remaining in the Premier League could be one option for the France international, with Everton one of the sides believed to be interested.
Rafael Benitez’s side have enjoyed a largely positive start to the new season, albeit with the club’s squad depth seemingly a real issue, something that has been laid bare in recent weeks following the absences of both Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Toffees’ boss brought in Salomon Rondon on a free transfer during the summer – having previously worked with the forward at Newcastle United – but the Venezuelan striker has struggled to make an impact and remains without a goal.
With the aforementioned Richarlison also frequently linked with a departure, the Merseyside club could well be in need of a quality replacement, with Martial offering the additional benefit of being able to play on the left-wing, as well as through the middle.
Martial netted his solitary goal of the season so far against Everton, latching onto Bruno Fernandes’ pass and firing in with a trademark, curling finish off the left to give his side a first-half lead, before Andros Townsend secured a point for Benitez’s side late on.
Whether the Red Devils would sell to a side that could – at present – be challenging for European positions remains to be seen, while any change in manager at Old Trafford could also impact a potential departure.
Real Madrid – 16/1
Real Madrid are ranked as fourth favourites for Martial’s signature, as the Spanish giants seek competition and cover for Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu.
Speculation first emerged over the summer that the La Liga side were interested in a loan move for the Frenchman, although he could well now secure a switch in January, with it appearing unlikely that he will be able to force his way back into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are currently short on alternatives to their talisman Benzema, with former Eintracht Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic failing to convince since his move to the Spanish capital back in the summer of 2019.
With former Tottenham man Gareth Bale set to depart in the summer and with Eden Hazard also facing an uncertain future due to his dismal stint in Spain, Martial could secure a place on the flanks for Los Blancos, albeit with the Brazilian duo of Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr currently impressing.
It is, however, seemingly public knowledge that Madrid are desperate to sign Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer in the summer, as well as fellow starlet Erling Haaland who could be available for a cut-price fee, meaning Martial may well be a mere short-term option until the end of the season at best.
Arsenal – 16/1
Could the one-time Lyon man really make the switch to Premier League rivals Arsenal?
In recent years Martial has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Emirates, amid continued uncertainty over the future of compatriot Alexandre Lacazette – whose current deal is set to expire in the summer.
Mikel Arteta has deployed both the 30-year-old and fellow forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in attack in recent games, though the two men having endured a turbulent time over the past year and a fresh face could be sought to add increased firepower.
The club does already have the young duo of Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun, yet neither striker has managed to really threaten for a regular starting berth, while versatile forward Gabriel Martinelli has also struggled for game time due to persistent injuries.
Having spent over £130m on six new additions during the summer, however, it remains to be seen whether the Gunners would be willing to dip back into the market again in January, with Martial not likely to come cheap as he still has just under three years to run on his existing deal.
Equally, it would be a real surprise to see United agree to a loan switch – or even a permanent sale – with one of their long-standing rivals, particularly amid their current predicament.
Paris Saint-Germain – 8/1
The favourites to sign the Frenchman in January are Paris Saint-Germain, with the Ligue 1 side believed to be keen on bolstering an already scarily talented attacking unit.
Even with the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, Mauricio Pochettino’s side haven’t quite found their rhythm this season, perhaps suffering from the lack of an out-and-out centre-forward.
PSG do possess Mauro Icardi amongst their ranks, but the Argentine has been plagued by off-field issues and has been linked with a move elsewhere.
The Parisian side also opted against signing loanee Moise Kean on a permanent basis, with the Italian instead making the switch from Everton to Juventus.
Reports emerged on deadline day that Martial’s agent Jorge Mendes was attempting to broker a deal between United and PSG, as the French side sought a replacement for Mbappe amid interest from Madrid.
While no such deal materialised, the continued uncertainty over Mbappe’s future could open the door to another move for Martial in January.
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