Juventus have reportedly identified Anthony Martial as a summer transfer target - but Manchester United have no intention of selling him.
The Bianconeri look set to be in the market for a forward, having seen Alvaro Morata return to Atletico Madrid following yet another loan deal. Morata had spent the last two seasons in Turin, but is now hoping to make an impact at his parent club and has impressed Diego Simeone in pre-season.
Martial has also enjoyed a positive summer after being given a clean slate by new United boss Erik ten Hag. Prior to the Dutchman’s arrival, Martial’s time at Old Trafford looked destined to come to an end, having slid down the pecking order in recent seasons.
The 26-year-old pushed for a move during the January window, after a very public falling out with interim boss Ralf Rangnick. His move to Sevilla didn’t go to plan however and following a spell which saw him score once in 12 games, the Spaniards, unsurprisingly, didn’t exercise their option to make it permanent.
He was then part of the initial batch of United players back at the start of Ten Hag’s first summer in charge and has been one of the success stories of pre-season so far. With Cristiano Ronaldo opting to not join his team-mates in the tour of Asia and Australia, Martial has led the line in each of the new manager’s four games in charge.
And in that time, he has found the net three times and earned the respect of Ten Hag, along with a section of supporters who had previously given up on him. Mirror Football understands that United have already told Martial he won’t be sold, particularly with Ronaldo’s uncertain future.
Prior to the pre-season programme it is believed United were open to Martial leaving or going out on loan again but Ten Hag has put a block on that having seen him play over the past few weeks.
Ronaldo could yet leave United, having made it clear that he would like to be granted a move if an acceptable offer is lodged. The 37-year-old is desperate to play in the Champions League, but has a dearth of options with the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Real Madrid all ruling themselves out of the running.
It was Ronaldo’s decision to leave Juventus last summer which still has the Serie A giants scrambling a year on. Dusan Vlahovic will suitably fill his boots as the starter, but beyond the former Sampdoria striker, there is a need for a new arrival.
That’s where Martial comes in, with Massimiliano Allegri placing him at the top of his list should Morata stay in Madrid, according to reports in Italy. But Ten Hag will hope to get his own way, after placing the emphasis on the player to keep improving as his tenure goes on.
“I think when he has the right focus and the right motivation and he works hard, he will have production because he is a good player,” he said last week.
“I say when he has the right focus and every day delivers much, then he will have production and it’s up to him.”
