Anthony Martial considering options as search for new club continues

Former Manchester United striker Anthony Martial is hoping that movement late in the summer transfer window will unlock a viable new club for him to join, 90min understands.

Martial remains a free agent following his release from Old Trafford at the end of his contract in June and is presently facing a similar situation to the one David de Gea encountered last summer.

After a year out of professional football, the goalkeeper has only recently signed with Fiorentina to prevent his career from petering out prematurely. De Gea struggled to find a club that would tick both his salary expectations and other sporting or geographic wishes.

For Martial, wage demands have put off some suitors. Interest from Marseille earlier in the summer has faded. Alternatively, Lyon owner John Textor is keen on re-signing him for his first club, where Martial spent several years in the academy ranks and played a handful of first-team games before being snapped up by Monaco, but it would require a significant salary cut that the forward isn't prepared to accept.

Martial is also resisting the Saudi Pro League for now. The most recent approaches have been from newly promoted Al-Qadsiah - who have landed ex-Real Madrid captain Nacho and former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer - and Al Shabab, eighth last season and whose most high profile players are Yannick Carrasco and Giacomo Bonaventura.

Still only 28 years of age, he doesn't want to make that move at this stage of his career despite the Saudi Pro League landing some younger players this window compared to 12 months ago.

Turkish side Besiktas, where Lazio legend Ciro Immobile has made a flying start to his debut Super Lig season, hold an ongoing interest in Martial. But there are no firm offers yet that would allow him to stay in the Premier League, having called England home since his teenage years.

Martial made 317 appearances for United, peaking with 23 goals during the 2019/20 season. But a combination of injury and loss of form resulted in his final four years with the club being considerably underwhelming and producing just 19 further goals.

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