Club reject the chance to sign Man Utd outcast Anthony Martial on a free transfer

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has been dealt a blow in securing a new club at the end of the season after a European outfit rejected the chance to sign the Frenchman.

Martial has endured a difficult season at United with injuries and just a general lack of trust from Erik ten Hag leaving him seemingly surplus to requirements with his contract up at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old has started just five times this season and has managed just one goal which came against Everton, which is barely worth counting considering his outrageously good record against the Toffees.

With seemingly no contract extension on the table for Martial, the former wonderkid must find a new club ahead of the 24/25 season if he wants to turn his career back around, but the striker has been handed an early blow in his attempt to secure first-team football.

According to French outlet Jeunes Footeux, Olympique Lyonnais have rejected the opportunity to sign the striker on a free transfer in the summer.

The report reads: “At the end of his contract at Manchester United at the end of the season, Anthony Martial, who will not be extended, has been offered to several clubs across Europe including Olympique Lyonnais. However, Gones boss John Textor did not want to follow through.”

This may seem like quite a damning development considering the current position Lyon finds themselves in. The French club sit 10th in Ligue 1 having only recently dragged themselves out of the potential prospect of relegation.

Anthony Martial- Getty

However, the decision to opt out of a move for Martial may be more to do with his staggeringly high wages, rather than his ability on the football pitch with the former Monaco man reportedly commanding £250,000 per week from his latest contract.

This kind of issue has been commonplace at United for years now, with the club finding it very difficult to move players on due to the insanity of the wage structure under Ed Woodward. However, with Martial out of contract in just a few months, he won't have the comfort blanket of remaining at Old Trafford.

Topics: Manchester United, Anthony Martial, Ligue 1, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League, Lyon

Tom Jenkins

Tom Jenkins is a Social Editor and Journalist for SPORTBible. Specialises in Football and F1 but has experience covering a variety of sports such as MMA, Boxing and Cricket. Suffers weekly as an Evertonian.

@tomjenkns