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Anthony Martial's contract runs out this summer, making it a time to worry for the Manchester United board. It doesn't look like he is part of Jose Mourinho's plans, which could lead him to not signing a contract extension.
Martial's time at United hasn't exactly been the best. He came with a lot of potential meaning the weight of expectation was on his shoulders. While he has improved since signing from AS Monaco, his growth has been nowhere near the standards everyone would have hoped and he would have liked.
It remains to be seen whether or not there will be progress in talks between United and Martial. But if there isn't, then the board will need to look seriously into players that could replace the Frenchman. To start off with, here are four players that can replace Martial at the Old Trafford club.
#4 Jose Callejon - Napoli
There are a number of Napoli stars who are being linked with moves to the Premier League, and Jose Callejon is just one of them. It's mainly because of Maurizio Sarri's move to London that there are a few Napoli stars in the limelight.
Obviously, this is only going to tempt Jose Mourinho further. While many would see Chelsea's interest in Callejon as a bad thing for United, I wouldn't bet against Mourinho plotting a move. Any chance he gets to get one over on Chelsea, he will take, do not be fooled.
Jose Callejon has been in fine form with Napoli this season, in fact, he's been one of their better players. He likes to drive his team forward with his work on the ball, something Martial doesn't do enough. While he does primarily play on the right-hand side, he is more than able to take up space on the left flank.
However, the Napoli winger is 31 years old which doesn't make him much of an investment for the future. Though the present predicament of Manchester United needs sorting out first.
#3 Nabil Fekir - Lyon
This transfer would be another sweet one for Manchester United fans because it will involve upset for the Liverpool fanbase. As the Reds missed out on him in the summer, Jose Mourinho was about to swoop in and try to persuade Lyon, however, he never did in the end.
It was a shame because Nabil Fekir would make the ideal Premier League player. He would come to England with a fresh approach to creativity, the fundamental to his game.
Fekir is a natural playmaker through the centre, so Jose Mourinho would need to adapt his style of play. He has played out wide before, but naturally, he does drift inside, with his teammates reaping all the benefits.
Signing Fekir would benefit the likes of Romelu Lukaku, who struggles to create chances by himself, leaving the onus on Paul Pogba to break free from the midfield.
Fekir being 25, he can also play long-term for the club and hence may be a better investment than Jose Callejon. However, being younger, he would cost more and United will have to shell out the extra money looking at their own future.
#2 Willian - Chelsea
The Brazilian has worked with Jose Mourinho before, and the Portuguese manager is a big fan of his game. With Maurizio Sarri still trying to figure out which attacking trio he should go for, it looks likely right now that Willian will miss out. It's not indicative of his ability though, he just doesn't show it often enough with Chelsea.
Although many wouldn't believe this is the case, working under Mourinho could actually benefit Willian. He has shown an eagerness to work with his former manager before, so if the feeling really is mutual, then he will receive a tonne of confidence.
Willian, being raised in Brazil, has a lot of flair to his game. Chelsea fans will argue he doesn't show this enough, but if you watch him closely, then he will often show signs of his natural skills as he aims to work around his opposite number.
At 30, Willian probably does not have a lot of years to offer but he has been playing in the Premier League for 5 years now and he would not need time to adapt to the style of play or new opponents. However, it is questionable how eager Chelsea would be to sell to Manchester United.
#1 Gareth Bale - Real Madrid
Gareth Bale has been linked with moves to Manchester United several times in the past, however, nothing has ever materialised. Obviously, we wouldn't be coming towards a transfer window if Bale hasn't been mentioned in the same sentence as United.
In all seriousness, United probably need Bale more than ever right now. And should Real Madrid's dreadful form continue, then some of their players could look to move elsewhere or even some players could be allowed by the club to move elsewhere.
Gareth Bale is familiar with the English setting, as he made his rise through the Premier League. He is an English speaking person, so there's no need for any integration on the language front, either.
One thing which will make this deal hard for United to pull off is Bale's past with Spurs. He may feel like he owes it to the Spurs fans to keep his loyalty intact, by not playing for another Premier League side. Still, it won't force Mourinho into not making a move.
Bale is known for his electrifying speed, being one of the fastest players in Europe. There's no denying that if United are to sign him, then he would easily improve the side, and he would be a vast upgrade on Martial.
However, considering the current form of United, it would be interesting to see if Gareth Bale would want to move to Old Trafford. Anyway, this move, if it happens could do wonders to the club but its a bit farfetched to say the least.
