OPINION
Talk of a swap deal between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United for left-backs Danny Rose and Luke Shaw has been rife for a while now.
However, after recent developments, there is one Manchester United player that Tottenham would be better off going for this summer.
Speaking to Il Bianconero, Anthony Martial’s agent Philippe Lamboley has admitted that there is a possibility his client may leave the Red Devils this summer.
“Will he stay in Manchester in the summer? I’m sorry, but at the moment I cannot say anything else about it. His goal is to win the FA Cup and to secure second place in the Premier League with Manchester United,” he said.
This cryptic comment opens the door to a potential summer exit for Martial, who has been consigned to a substitute role for most of this season at Old Trafford.
And while talk of a deal between United and Spurs involving a swap for Shaw and Rose seems to make sense, Tottenham must forget that and turn their attention to the 22-year-old France international.
Martial would slot perfectly into the Spurs squad as a left-winger or as a back-up striker to Harry Kane, and his addition would take the club’s attacking threat to another level.
Despite being limited to mostly bench appearances this season, Martial has still managed to score nine goals and lay on five assists in the Premier League.
Imagine what he could do when trust is placed in his ability by Mauricio Pochettino, who is known for his ability to develop young players.
Conversely, a move for Shaw is one that carries a lot of risk. The left-back has been in patchy form for Manchester United, and while there are questions about Jose Mourinho’s constant criticism of him, there are obviously issues with the flyer’s attitude.
With Spurs holding a big bargaining chip in Rose, who United are known to be interested in, they should use that to their advantage in making a move for Martial instead.
They will undoubtedly have to add some cash to the deal, but the potential outlay would be worth it.