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What's the story?
Barcelona's hunt for a forward has landed them at Old Trafford. Reports in Mundo Deportivo suggest that the Catalan side are eyeing a move for Anthony Martial.
The Daily Mail also claim that Ernesto Valverde has asked Barcelona to get the Frenchman at any cost in January or next summer. The Spanish side are hoping to persuade him by offering a starting role at Camp Nou.
In case you didn’t know...
Anthony Martial was signed by Manchester United in the summer of 2015. He cost around £58 million and has already made 100 apps for the club.
Despite being just 21, he has already notched up 30 goals for the Red Devils and is hungry for more. However, his chances are limited at Old Trafford as he does not get to start in every game under Jose Mourinho.
The heart of the matter
Jose Mourinho has been using Antonhy Martial as a super-sub in the Premier League. He has only started once in the league this season but the striker is patient and grabs the opportunities with both hands.
Barcelona are now trying to take advantage of this situation and offer him a starting role at Camp Nou. The Catalan side are keen on signing him and are willing to break the bank.
The Blaugranas are currently playing Denis Suarez and Gerard Deulofeu as left-wingers following the injury to Ousmane Dembele. The former Borussia Dortmund star is out with a hamstring injury for the year, and is expected to be back b late January.
Martial has scored five goals and assisted six so far this season despite being on the bench more often than not. The qualities possed by the Frenchman are immense but Mourinho is still reluctant to hand him a starting – something that is on offer at Barcelona.
What’s next?
Manchester United are going to knock back all approaches from Barcelona for Martial. The striker is a key part of the team Mourinho is building at Old Trafford and won't be allowing the Frenchman to leave.
Author’s Take
Martial is certainly one of the best young strikers in the world. However, he is being played on the left wing more often and that is something he might not like.
He is the ideal back up for Romelu Lukaku right now and it would be a surprise if he actually decides to move away from Old Trafford.
