Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has been added to the list of targets for Turkish giants Fenerbahce, according to reports.
Anthony Martial’s future at Manchester United looks all but over as the Frenchman has just over six months left to run on the five-year contract he signed for the Red Devils back in 2019, under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
A 17-goal season under the Norwegian back in 2019/2020 was as good as it got for the former AS Monaco forward since that contract renewal as a combination of injuries and loss of form has meant the 28-year-old looks set to leave Old Trafford.
Martial’s contract won’t be renewed according to David Ornstein and Turkish side Fenerbahce are believed to be interested, but a former United striker could scupper the deal.
Fenerbahce interest
According to a report from Turkish outlet Dirili Postasi, the Turkish giants are keen on holding talks with the Frenchman in January ahead of joining the club on a free in the summer.
The outlet explains that Fenerbahçe board member Selahattin Baki ‘will have a meeting with the striker’ to discuss a potential move to Istanbul.
As Martial’s contract expires in the summer, clubs can approach the Frenchman in January and the 28-year-old can agree to a pre-contract move in the summer which looks to be what the Turkish side are doing.
However, there could well be a couple of issues. Martial’s astronomical wages, believed to be £250,000 a week according to Sky Sports, is one issue but the Turkish side have a cheaper alternative in mind, Wout Weghorst.
Weghorst joined United on loan 11 months ago but failed to prove that he was good enough to be a backup striker scoring just twice for the Red Devils before promptly returning to parent club Burnley.
Fenerbahce are interested according to the report and the Dutch striker would sure be a cheaper option, in terms of the wages on offer.
However, Weghorst would have a year remaining on his contract in the summer, so a fee would be needed for the Turkish side to sign him, hence why Martial might be the more attractive signing.
Martial’s legacy
The Frenchman exploded onto the scene in English football with that incredible debut goal off the bench against Liverpool and he continued to perform for the Red Devils in his debut season under Louis Van Gaal.
However, the former Monaco striker struggled under Mourinho before he encountered a raft of injury problems under Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick and simply cannot be relied upon under Erik ten Hag.
It’s a sad way for the Frenchman’s time at Old Trafford to end but the reality is that the striker needed to leave the club two seasons ago.
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