Pundit Noel Whelan has poured praise on striker Anthony Martial, following news that Everton could join the race for the French marksman.
The Manchester United star is available, according to the Daily Star, following the further saturation of United’s offensive options with the £72 million arrival of Jadon Sancho from German side Borussia Dortmund.
The England international joins Martial along with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Dan James and Edinson Cavani as some of the club’s recognised attacking options.
Most can feature in multiple positions just like Martial, who has also been deployed as a winger in his career.
However, injury prevented Martial from being able to fight for his place last season and has continued to fall down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Spurs, Everton, West Ham and Aston Villa are all credited in the report with interest but Martial’s mammoth £250,000-a-week wages make a deal increasingly difficult to strike for suitors.
Nonetheless, Whelan feels Everton would benefit immensely from his services, even if the realism of a deal was far less probable in Whelan’s view.
Speaking to Football Insider, the pundit claimed:
“I struggle to see that deal happening right now.
“Are Manchester United really willing to let him go? They need strength in depth and Martial is an important member of that squad.
“I know he would not have to move far from Manchester to Merseyside but I think he’d want to fight for his place in that United side.
“If he is up from grabs, Everton could get a brilliant young footballer with the best years ahead of him. We have seen the amount of potential Martial has got.
“He may need to play week in, week out to hit the heights but I still think it will be very difficult to get him out of United. But If a move to Everton is on the cards, wow, that would be more very good business from them.”
Read Everton Verdict
With just Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the club’s out-and-out senior striker, recruiting a backup striker could be a transfer objective for the Toffees.
However, his wages and £40.5 million valuation [via Transfermarkt] renders the finances on a deal as anything but a bargain.
Any deal could represent a significant outlay for the club despite Everton operating in tight regulatory parameters.
With 55 goals in 167 Premier League outings, his record in front of goal is nothing to be snubbed, though it is hard to see Everton seeing obvious value for money in a deal.
