The transfer window often leads to clubs making panic buys just to appease fans or to show their financial muscle, many clubs have been guilty of spending a bag load of money on a player but not knowing them well enough. Manchester United seem to be in that mood at the moment and are set to land 19-year-old Anthony Martial from Monaco for a fee rumoured to be £36 million, but who is this French attacker?
Another potentially world-class signing but is he what United need?
Martial was a Lyon youth product and was extremely prolific at scoring goals. The youngster managed to bag 32 goals in just 21 games at youth level for the club and broke into the team. He only made three appearances for the senior team before Monaco signed him in 2013 for £3.5 million.
Martial broke into the limelight last season when he scored 11 goals in 42 games. His greatest asset is his pace, which has been one of the traits that a UEFA technical report stated about players at the U21 European Championship in 2013. He also has great technical ability, excellent control and brilliant movement. The only downside of his game, according to various sources is his lack of physicality which often takes him out of the game and also his inconsistency, though at 19, he still has time on his hand to get better.
The third most expensive signing in United’s history
The transfer fee for the youngster is huge, Tottenham, according to reports wanted to sign the youngster last season and had quoted around £10 million and the French club had asked for £20 million, but United have smashed that amount out of the park.
United have been guilty of overspending on several occasions in the transfer window, Angel id Maria, their most expensive signing in their history was shipped off after just one season while Juan Mata, their second most expensive signing had a slow start to his career and only now has shown his ability. Manchester United, need someone who can give them the goals they so desperately need and signing someone this young who has not actually achieved much in his career surely is seen as a desperate move more than anything else from the record English Champions.
They might have signed some big names in this transfer window but this is most certainly a panic buy, Louis van Gaal hasn’t been able to click the players he got in last season and neither have United looked any sharp this season. They still need a central defender who can shore up the defence and sort out the goalkeeping issues.
Manchester United and Ed Woodward would need to have a good hard look at themselves after this transfer window if the only deal they complete is that of Martial. But seeing how the transfer window plays out for teams, Martial could turn out to be a great signing and someone who stays at the club and performs every single day.