Reports suggest that Anthony Martial has declined the possibility of departing Manchester United in the ongoing transfer window. Instead, he is determined to remain with the club until the conclusion of his contract.
The striker, who has faced reduced playing time in recent years due to injuries and a dip in form, is now in the final six months of the long-term deal he signed back in 2019. Despite losing his status as Erik ten Hag’s preferred ‘number nine’ to £72m signing Rasmus Hojlund, Martial has reportedly decided to stay at United.
Martial has rejected interest from clubs such as Marseille, Fenerbahce, and the Saudi Pro League, signaling his intention to fight for his place at Manchester United, at least in the short term.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Last month, 90min reported that United is unlikely to trigger an option in Martial’s contract that would extend it for another year until the summer of 2025. While this stance remains unchanged, recent discussions between Ten Hag and Martial about his contract situation suggest that the Frenchman’s tenure at Old Trafford might not necessarily end as a free agent in the coming months.
Since joining United in 2015 from Monaco in a £36m transfer, Martial’s career has been a rollercoaster. Despite early success, he faced competition from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, and although he enjoyed a standout season in 2019/20, he has struggled to replicate that form since.
While United may find it challenging to make aggressive moves in the current transfer window unless Martial departs, Ten Hag is reportedly interested in adding another goalscorer to the squad. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is identified as a target, having fallen out of favor at Bayern Munich. Lille’s Jonathan David and Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy, who has a €17.5m (£15m) release clause, are also considered options, with the latter likely to remain at Stuttgart until the summer.