126 days after his last appearance for Manchester United against Bournemouth, it seems that Anthony Martial may have played his final game for the club. Following his disappointment at United, Martial has reportedly reached out to Inter for potential opportunities.

Erik ten Hag, the coach of Ajax, has stated that Manchester United will be looking to acquire a new striker during the summer transfer window to address their scoring struggles this season. Rasmus Hojlund, one of their summer signings, has emerged as their leading goal scorer with 13 goals, while Martial, the only other recognized senior striker in the squad, has been sidelined since the Bournemouth match in December due to groin surgery. Despite United initially stating that Martial would be out for ten weeks, his absence has now extended beyond eleven weeks. With his contract set to expire in June, it appears likely that Martial will be released by the club after spending nine years with them.

When asked about Martial’s future with United, Ten Hag expressed uncertainty, stating that the forward is still with the medical team and it remains unclear if he will be available for selection.

Ten Hag defended United’s preseason preparations when questioned about Martial’s lengthy absence, highlighting that the team has been scoring goals consistently since January. However, their goal differential still remains negative.

The lack of a reliable and proven striker has been exacerbated by Marcus Rashford’s poor form, with Rashford scoring significantly fewer goals compared to last season. Ten Hag acknowledged the importance of having two strikers in the squad and expressed the need for more options and depth in various positions, including the striker and left fullback positions, which have affected the team’s results.

While Ten Hag had counted on Martial and had high praise for his performances in the past, he believes that signing a new striker would have provided enough goal-scoring options. The coach emphasized the importance of having multiple targets and the ability to rely on players like Rashford and Martial, whose contributions have been significant in crucial matches.

As Martial’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain, there have been speculations about a possible return to Ligue 1 or a move to other European clubs offering him an escape route from United.