Premier League
Anthony Martial Undergoes Groin Surgery, Forces Man United To Make Transfer Choices
Manchester United has been left with no choice but to seek alternatives as Anthony Martial suffers another injury blow.
News emerged from Old Trafford on Wednesday that Martial had undergone surgery on his groin.
As a result of this procedure, the French professional footballer will be out of action for a minimum of ten weeks while he begins his recovery process at Old Trafford.
This means Martial will not return to action until May. A statement from Manchester United reads: “We wish Anthony a speedy recovery and look forward to his return.”
It should be noted that Martial has been absent from Manchester United’s lineup since December 9, 2023. The 28-year-old French international, who has fallen out of favour, last played in Bournemouth’s 3-0 victory over the Red Devils at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
Furthermore, Martial’s contract with the Red Devils is set to expire on June 30, 2024.
Sportxparte understands that Martial’s fitness problems began around Christmas and caused him to miss the team’s last seven matches in all competitions until his groin issue was diagnosed.
In the previous season, the former Monaco forward only appeared in 28 out of United’s 62 games.
Additionally, he has only managed to score one goal in 13 Premier League matches so far this season.
Since his £36 million transfer from Monaco to Manchester United in 2015, Martial’s performance has significantly declined.
As a result, he was loaned to Sevilla for the 2021-2022 season. Since arriving in England in 2015, he has scored a total of 90 goals in 317 games across all competitions for the Red Devils.
Alternatives For Erik ten Hag
As it stands at Old Trafford, Rasmus Hojlund finds himself as the sole recognized striker for United due to Martial’s prolonged absence, a situation he is familiar with.
Despite only scoring two league goals this season, Hojlund starts most games as there are no other viable options in his position.
While Marcus Rashford can fill in, he becomes discontented when leading the attack and struggles to perform both in the centre and on the left.
Additionally, young strikers Joe Hugill and Charlie McNeill are unavailable, with Hugill on loan and McNeill playing for the Under-21s after an unsuccessful loan spell with Stevenage.
The potential injury of Hojlund could have disastrous consequences, highlighting the urgent need for United to secure a new striker before the January transfer window closes. Last year, United demonstrated their ability to swiftly address such situations by signing Marcel Sabitzer on loan when Christian Eriksen got injured.
The deal with Bayern Munich was completed within days, and Sabitzer played a crucial role in Eriksen’s absence. This proves that it is possible to secure a new signing before the February 1 deadline.
Karim Benzema Chances Of Playing For United
It has now become a must for United to act swiftly to identify potential targets, and one player worth considering is Karim Benzema.
Rumors suggest he is unhappy in Saudi Arabia, and a short-term loan deal with him would be ideal. It is imperative for United not to rely solely on Hojlund for the remainder of the season; they simply cannot afford to do so.
