Barcelona are reportedly considering making a move for Anthony Martial next year, as the Frenchman has been given the green light to leave Manchester United.

According to a report from Eurosport, Manchester United have informed misfiring forward Anthony Martial to look for a new club either in January or the summer next year, piquing the interest of Barcelona, who are now mulling over a swoop for the Frenchman.

Martial arrived at Manchester United back in the summer of 2015 from AS Monaco for a fee that made him the world’s most expensive teenager at the time. However, after a stellar debut season, the Frenchman has struggled to live up to the hype, failing to deliver the goods on a consistent basis.

The 2019/20 campaign offered some hope as he finished as the club’s top goalscorer, but the last season was yet another underwhelming one for the 25-year-old before an injury brought a premature end to the campaign. With Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani having pushed past him in the pecking order, Martial was linked with a summer exit from Manchester United.

However, the Red Devils decided not to part ways with the former AS Monaco starlet, deciding to hand him another shot at proving himself. But opportunities have been hard to come by in the new season for Martial, with Manchester United signing Cristiano Ronaldo, which has pushed him further down the pecking order of things at Old Trafford.

Anthony Martial is linked with a move to Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Anthony Martial is linked with a move to Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

While the 25-year-old would like to remain at the club, he does not want to do so as a fringe player and would consider an exit either to a club in the Premier League or elsewhere in Europe. Barcelona are now said to be considering making a swoop for Martial next year, although it has not been made clear if it would be in January or in the summer.

The Catalans are going through a rebuild in their attacking department, having lost Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann this past summer. Memphis Depay was brought in and has made an impressive start to the campaign but is lacking quality support around him, owing to the injuries to Sergio Aguero, Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati.

Deadline day arrival Luuk de Jong hardly looks like a good fit at Camp Nou based on early signs while Aguero’s recent injury issues mean he can hardly be considered a reliable outlet. Furthermore, with Dembele’s contract running out in the summer, it makes sense for the Blaugrana to consider bolstering their attack.

Martial, to that end, can be a handy signing considering his experience at the highest level while he also has age on his side. However, a move for the Frenchman could prove to be tricky for Barcelona as Manchester United value him at £40 million while his massive wages of £250,000-a-week would be a hindrance as well.

It remains to be seen if the Blaugrana do decide to move for Martial, but as things stand, it looks like the French international’s time at Manchester United could be drawing to a close imminently.

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