Manchester United dealt Anthony Martial blow as Sevilla eye Olympique Lyon striker Moussa Dembele
According to Spanish publication Marca (h/t ESPN), Manchester United have been handed a setback as Sevilla have turned their attention towards Olympique Lyon striker Moussa Dembele after they failed to make progress in signing Anthony Martial. He has not enjoyed enough time on the pitch this season following the summer arrivals to the forward line.
The Spanish club has been assessing the January transfer window to look for strikers to boost their attack. They had identified Martial as an option, but there have not been any solid developments in their pursuit to get his services. As a result, they have targeted Dembele and are contemplating getting him on a loan deal.
The 26-year-old has apparently already made it clear that he wants to leave Old Trafford in search of more minutes elsewhere. So, this latest update could come as a blow to him and the Red Devils since they may not want to keep hold of a wantaway star. After all, it is never wise to keep a player whose attention is focused elsewhere.
Martial to Sevilla off?
Earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the interest from Julen Lopetegui’s side is dependent on the financial conditions set up by Man United. These include the loan fee and the wages that have to be paid by them throughout the temporary deal. And if they are deciding to look elsewhere, that means United may not have budged from their stance.
We are currently paying the Frenchman a salary package of £150,000-a-week, which is not the cheapest, to say the least. He looked worth the pay in the 2019/20 season but has failed to recapture that form ever since. And now, that high wage package may have been a barrier in us trying to offload him.
If the club really is willing to let him leave this month, then something has to give. The player would also know that the FIFA World Cup is edging closer by the day, and that regular club football is something that helps a player’s chances of getting selected for his national team.
With not many days left in the winter transfer market, it may be the wiser option to compromise to an extent that Martial is off our books at least until the end of the season. It is clear that we don’t really need him, with our attack already loaded with options. And once he is off until the summer, we can then deal with the Martial situation again once he returns to Old Trafford.
More Manchester United News
- Manchester United battle Tottenham Hotspur for Aberdeen wonderkid Calvin Ramsay
- Ralf Rangnick vetoed Anthony Elanga leaving Manchester United on loan
- Ralf Rangnick remains hesitant to let Jesse Lingard leave Manchester United
It remains to be seen if we can get the Red Devils outcast off the squad in the coming days before the deadline date. Let’s hope that a favourable outcome awaits us and that Sevilla shifting their interest elsewhere is nothing but a bargaining strategy from their side.
