No Martial, No Problem – Here Are 3 Perfect Replacements Manchester United Should Go For In The Next Window

Rumours linking Anthony Martial with an exit from Manchester United just refuse to die down. The 20-year old was heavily linked with a move away to Sevilla on loan in January but the Red Devils blocked that move. However, Martial continues to grow disillusioned at Old Trafford due to the lack of regular involvement in the first team and now reports have emerged stating that the Frenchman will look for a permanent move away from the M-16 in the summer transfer window.

Martial arrived at United from Monaco for a huge sum of money and despite the pressure to justify the transfer fee, the French international delivered the goods, finishing the 2015-16 season with 17 goals, ending up as the top scorer for the Red Devils. But things have hardly gone the way the youngster would have desired this term under new manager Jose Mourinho. Martial has struggled to nail down a place in the first team owing to his inconsistent displays.

The former Monaco man has featured 22 times in all competitions for United this term and has managed to find the back of the net on six occasions and has also set up three more goals. He has been singled out by Jose in recent times saying that the Frenchman has failed to make the most of the opportunities that he was afforded and needs to improve. But, it could very well happen that Martial may not even be a United player come July. And if that happens, here are three replacements that the Red Devils should target:

Yannick-Ferreira Carrasco

The Belgian youngster has been one of the most promising players in Europe in the past two years and has become a key cog of the Atletico Madrid side under Diego Simeone.

Carrasco has already notched up 10 goals this season for the Los Rojiblancos along with two assists in 28 club appearances and has been excelling out on the wings. The 23-year old, who can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder through the centre or as a centre-forward, is also a constant fixture in the Belgian national team as well. An excellent dribbler of the ball with great instincts in front of goal and a penchant for cutting in from the flanks, Carrasco is also a threat from set-pieces and possesses a great technical ability.

Young, fast, comfortable on the wings or through the middle, Carrasco has shown that he has what it takes to play at the topmost level and if Martial does decide to move on from Old Trafford, the 23-year old will be the perfect replacement for the Frenchman.

Thorgan Hazard

The younger brother of Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard, Thorgan has emerged as an exciting prospect over the past two years at Borussia Monchengladbach.

The 23-year old has been in good form for Gladbach this term, having scored 8 times so far along with 4 assists in all competitions. Thorgan has been devastating, playing as the auxiliary striker for the German side this season, but is equally comfortable out on the wings, much like his elder sibling. Given his terrific burst of pace, the Belgian presents a great threat from the counter and also possesses some neat dribbling abilities. He has the ability to score and can also find his teammates in dangerous positions with great consistency.

What works in Thorgan’s favour though is, his immense work-rate. The 23-year old is never shy from putting in his shift in the defensive side and that is something that Mourinho loves in his players. Free-scoring, fast and possessing a great work ethic, Thorgan Hazard could be the right man to replace Martial and it would also make for an interesting rivalry between the two brothers in the Premier League.

Timo Werner

The 20-year old German is absolutely slaying it in the Bundesliga this season with RB Leipzig and has been one of the main driving forces behind his team’s excellent start to the season that sees them in the second place.

Werner has already netted 11 times this term and also has registered four assists from 19 games across the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal. A tall frame in front of goal, the 20-year old has shown great goalscoring instincts and more often than not has dominated the defences that he has gone up against. Good with the ball at his feet, Werner can also play on the flanks with his pace and ability to take on defenders and beat them.

An intelligent operator in the final third of the pitch, Werner is known for his smart movements that create spaces for him and for his teammates to run into. At 20, Werner is young and still has a long way to go, but given his recent displays with RB Leipzig, he looks like the next big thing in Germany and United would reap the rewards of his signature for a long time.