Manchester United confirmed on Wednesday that Anthony Martial will be out of action until April.
The Manchester United forward has not featured for the Reds since the home defeat against Bournemouth in December.
Martial, 28, is out of contract this summer and has managed 19 appearances and two goals this season. Another sorry goal return for a striker that many of us thought would reach the top of the game.
A statement from Manchester United read: “Anthony Martial has completed successful surgery to address a groin complaint and will be out of action for about 10 weeks as he rehabilities. We wish Anthony a speedy recovery and look forward to his return.”
Look forward to his return? Yeah, that must be said through gritted teeth.
This is the latest in a long line of setbacks for a player who once upon a time had a bright future in the game. He kicked off his United career with a bang after joining from AS Monaco in 2015 but has failed to fully reach his potential.
Martial has managed to score 90 goals in 317 appearances for United.
The Martial disaster will come to an end this summer when the Frenchman is expected to leave Old Trafford as a free agent.
Recent reports suggest United will not be offering Martial a new deal to extend his stay at United.
Does Martial’s injury blow change how Manchester United will approach the January transfer window?
In short, no.
This was discussed on Sky Sports News this evening and Dharmesh Sheth was first to give his verdict on what Martial’s injury means for United. He says United have been keeping their eyes on the loan market since the beginning of the month and that won’t change now because of Martial’s 10-week absence.
Sheth describes United’s stance as “steady” in the transfer market.
Will Anthony Martial being out for ten weeks affect Manchester United's transfer plans? 💰🔴 pic.twitter.com/bud6jhUuY9
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 24, 2024
Footage courtesy of Sky Sports News
The Sky Sports News reporter claims United are not planning for Martial in the short-term or long-term future.
Melissa Reddy adds that United are short in the attacking department plus how the club did not want to put so much pressure on Rasmus Hojlund’s shoulders early on in his career. She argues that short-term deals will only make the squad rebuild more difficult down the line.
At this rate, Martial has had more injury setbacks than appearances. It is no wonder that he won’t be offered a new deal at Old Trafford.
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