Manchester United might have to start considering the unthinkable with Anthony Martial – Tyrone Marshall

When Anthony Martial was scoring 23 targets to finish final season as Manchester United’s high goalscorer it felt like he was on his solution to proving his future lay as a centre ahead.

Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood regarded like a entrance three United might financial institution on long-term, however they’ve all had troublesome patches this season and it feels just like the Frenchman’s has been extra elongated than the others.

Final season Martial regarded like United’s greatest wager for the No.9 position, a part of a entrance three designed round pace and motion. He did not but have the behavior of scoring the scruffy targets that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer adores and he was typically loitering on the periphery of the penalty space fairly than getting the whites of the posts in his tunnel imaginative and prescient.

The speculation was that will come. He was studying from the grasp in Solskjaer when it got here to poaching targets and he was nonetheless comparatively younger in his improvement as a striker. However the summer time arrival of Edinson Cavani on a free switch has inadvertently highlighted what Martial does not provide United within the centre ahead position, and what he could by no means have the ability to provide them.

Cavani could also be eight years Martial’s senior however he’s a extra energetic presence because the fulcrum of this assault in addition to a extra constant goalkeeper. Each have seven targets this season however whereas Cavani’s are coming at a price of 0.53 per 90 minutes, Martial’s are arriving at 0.33 per 90.

Martial is kind of taking the possibilities anticipated of him, with an xG of seven.8 this season, however Cavani is outperforming his anticipated targets variety of 5.3. It is no shock that Cavani is the extra ruthless finisher and whereas Martial is able to the spectacular, it is Cavani you’d need if there was a one-on-one with the goalkeeper to be devoured.

There’s additionally a noticeable distinction between the depth with which United press when Cavani is main the road. Martial averages 10 pressures per 90 minutes whereas Cavani is up at 16.5.

It was noticeable within the early phases of the FA Cup fifth-round win in opposition to West Ham United on Tuesday that United’s coaches had been urging their group to press, however neither Martial or Rashford are significantly energetic pressers, which might permit defences to play out.

Nevertheless lengthy Cavani’s spell at Previous Trafford lasts, it has solely heightened United’s must signal a centre ahead in one of many subsequent two summers. Doubts have grown this season over Martial’s skill to function within the position.

And if he is not a striker at United, then his position is not clear. He is typically been moved again to the left when enjoying with Cavani and that’s most likely his greatest place, however it’s additionally Rashford’s greatest place. Rashford has been pressured to the precise when the three have performed collectively however he’s nowhere close to as efficient on that flank.

Neither Martial or Rashford had a very good sport in opposition to the Hammers when each had been mentioning their 250th United look. However whereas we all know what Rashford can produce and it appears like he is nonetheless bettering as a participant, Martial has reached the milestone with as many questions as solutions over his United profession.

If the concept of repurposing him as a striker is starting to wane, then it could be approaching the time to contemplate cashing in on Martial. Rashford is definitely the higher possibility on the left and if United need to fund a transfer for a world-class centre ahead then a departure for the Frenchman may make sense.

It could maintain a pathway clear for Greenwood to maneuver centrally as nicely, whereas additionally making room within the squad for a winger, Jadon Sancho maybe, and giving room for the crop of thrilling attacking skills popping out of the academy to edge nearer the first-team squad.

No one performs 250 video games for Manchester United with out being a very good participant, however there’s nonetheless a query as to how Martial suits into the long-term improvement of this squad.