Manchester United are expected to consider offers for Anthony Martial this summer, with his long-term prospects at Old Trafford in doubt after taking a step back last season.
A long-term “number nine” is part of United’s transfer plans, although it will have to wait until next summer. Meanwhile, Edinson Cavani recently agreed on an extension of 12 months and has gone over Martial as the main center in Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s squad.
United have paid around £ 51m for Martial, with a fee of £ 36m last year since the top-flight was triggered when he scored his 25th Premier League goal and made his 25th senior game for France. The remaining addition to the original deal was to win the Ballon d’Or, which may not have seemed so ridiculous when he was 19 but now looks to be unfulfilled.
The 25-year-old is obviously not a bad player. He scored 23 goals in all competitions during the 2019/20 campaign and his top should still remain.
Martial had a bad season 2020/21 and Man Utd are willing to let him go at the right price / Marc Atkins / Getty Images
Given this context, United would rather sell Martial for more than £ 60 million or £ 70 million – the Old Trafford club also owe Monaco half of the capital gains they make by selling. A sale of 60 million pounds would, for example, mean that Monaco received 4.5 million pounds in fees.
But with depth a problem last season, United are not desperate to get rid of first-team players and would only sell Martial if an offer comes in that meets their “realistic value”. He may not be a starter but the club has no reason to let him go on the cheap. Letting him leave the loan does not mean any obvious financial upward trend either, as he would need to be replaced immediately.
Poor form and a depressed transfer market will limit what United can expect to be offered as well as the number of clubs with the financial means to pay so much. But a handful of teams will likely be in the market for a striker this summer and may still have money to spend.
Here is an overview of clubs that may be able to place a bid …
Inter may still stop selling Lautaro Martinez this summer / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
There is still a chance that Inter could lose Lautaro Martinez this summer, which would put them on the market for a forward with a beautiful budget if they are to sell the Argentine.
90 minutes revealed in May that Manchester City and Chelsea retain interest in Martinez and can move for him if they miss other goals such as Harry Kane or Erling Haaland. Liverpool are also exploring the possibility of strengthening in attacking areas and are another potential suitor.
Martinez has been an important part of Inter’s success in recent years and replacing him would be a must, with any future signing to be a partner for Romelu Lukaku.
Martial has seen how his former United colleague has reached new heights in Serie A and there is every chance that a similar new start in Italy can do the same for him.
PSG may need to replace Kylian Mbappe / FRANCK FIFE / Getty Images
PSG will need a forward if Kylian Mbappe is sold this summer and, while Martial is a step down from the talent of the generation, the chance to start again at home in France, in his hometown, in a league known for being more favorable than the rest of Europe’s top five leagues can be attractive.
If PSG only go after Martial because Mbappe is gone, money will not be a problem either.
The French giants are interested in Harry Kane and the Tottenham star is open to moving abroad, with PSG a favorite destination. But even if Spurs would rather see Kane go abroad than join a Premier League rival, such as Manchester City, they are still determined not to sell at all.
This means that PSG may need to look elsewhere and Martial would be a cheaper option.
Everton have continued to underutilize despite investments / Pool / Getty Images
Everton have spent huge sums in recent seasons trying and failing to bridge the gap to Premier League top clubs and stand at another critical time this summer after manager Carlo Ancelotti left at the end of last season.
Six of the current Toffees squads are in the top seven most expensive signings of all time and if the majority owner Farhad Moshiri is willing to play big again, the club may consider Martial a missing piece in the puzzle to get them where they want to be.
For Everton, even hitting just their weight rather than under it would be an achievement after finishing 10th and 12th in the last two Premier League seasons.
Tottenham will have money to spend if they sell Harry Kane / Sebastian Frej / MB Media / Getty Images
Even if they really do not want to, if Tottenham are forced to sell Harry Kane before the new season, they will potentially have a huge budget to reinvest in the squad and sign a replacement for their top scorer and talisman.
As soon as it was reported that Kane wanted to leave Spurs, Martial’s name was rumored as a player that the club in north London had identified as a potential target, along with Gabriel Jesus.
Until a bizarre 2020/21 season that Martial and any new clubs hope was a temporary blip, the Frenchman had proved that when he starts matches as “number nine” he scores.
That chance now seems to have passed him in Manchester, but it is no coincidence that 2019/20 was an excellent season when he had previously started less than half of the club’s league matches 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 and play others violin for others.
Every team that starts Martial regularly and creates chances for him should be of great benefit.
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