The United Stand presenter Mark Goldbridge has hit out at the ‘cost-cutting’ Manchester United owners after an update on their transfer plans this summer emerged.
TalkSport’s resident transfer specialist Alex Crook has said in his transfer notebook that United’s hierarchy feel that striker Anthony Martial can ‘save them a fortune’ in this transfer window if he is able to rediscover his form under new manager Erik ten Hag, with the club not prepared to meet Ajax’s reported £67m demand to sign winger Antony.
Martial was sent on loan to Sevilla in January but played just 12 matches for the Spanish outfit and managed to find the net just once.
However, despite being unable to repay the £36m price tag the Red Devils initially forked out for him in 2015, Martial has seemingly been thrown a lifeline, with Ten Hag being ‘encouraged’ by Old Trafford chiefs to find a role for the 26-year-old, having been deterred by Antony’s asking price.
The report has forced Goldbridge to comment, and taking to Twitter, he said: “How can you say Martial is a replacement for not signing Antony? Martial replaces Cavani and we’re still ridiculously short of options in the attack. As usual, this is just cost-cutting and spin from the Glazers to paper the cracks they create.”
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Martial scored in United’s 4-0 pre-season friendly win over Liverpool this week, and having netted 79 goals and assisted a further 50 in 269 appearances for the side, he could most certainly be an option for Ten Hag.
However, he has suffered with injury in recent seasons and we feel they are going to need further options in attack, as Goldbridge has pointed out.
While Antony may not be affordable, they will need to find alternatives, with Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga and Marcus Rashford their only other senior options in attack should reportedly wantaway talisman Cristiano Ronaldo also be granted his wish of an exit.