Anthony Martial is set to hand incoming Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag a headache before the Dutchman's appointment is even confirmed.
Ajax boss ten Hag, 52, met with United bosses last month to talk about becoming their new manager and is now set to take the job on a permanent basis, with a new-look United set to take shape for next season. But a player who is unlikely to play a big part is Martial, who joined Sevilla on a loan deal for the remainder of the season in January.
In six league appearances afforded to the United loanee so far at the Spanish club, the forward has failed to score and has looked less and less threatening with every week. He has provided one assist but it has been a hugely underwhelming impact at Sevilla for the Frenchman, especially in the context of plenty of fanfare regarding his arrival in La Liga.
It was the Frenchman's agent that convinced him of the project at Sevilla but that plan has gone from "bad to worse", as outlined this week by Spanish media. Following on from his lack of impact, Martial will not be retained by Sevilla – who will allow him to re-join United this summer.
Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui said on Thursday of the striker's situation: "I have to help him to achieve his best version. He has to do his part and adapt to what we ask of him." The former Spain and Real Madrid boss did not sound upbeat on the player and it was striking that he alluded to his lack of form.
Martial appeared as an 82nd minute substitute in United's 1-0 win over West Ham in late January prior to his exit, but that was his first appearance for the club since a two-minute cameo off the bench against Arsenal on December 2. Having lost prominence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Martial failed to convince Ralf Rangnick that he was an option for the starting line-up.
Have Your Say! Does Anthony Martial have any future at Man Utd? Tell us what you think here.
The 26-year-old has only scored two goals this season across his two clubs – an early-season Premier League strike in a draw against Everton in October and netted for Sevilla against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League. He had fallen behind a host of attacking players in United's squad, with the emergence of Anthony Elanga – following the signings of Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo – pushing him further down the pecking order.
Cavani is out of contract this summer and Ronaldo's future is also unclear, with Marcus Rashford the only recognised striker who appears likely to be at Old Trafford next season – and even the youth product's future is not entirely certain. Yet Martial's stock has continued to fall and it is likely that ten Hag will look instead to sign a new striker, rather than give the Frenchman prominence in his side.
Once world football's most expensive teenager when he joined United from Monaco in 2015, he has failed to deliver on his early promise – although he had scored a more than respectable 79 goals in 269 games for United.
