Anthony Martial Given Manchester United Lifeline With Cristiano Ronaldo Set To Leave Club

Anthony Martial could be given a Manchester United lifeline by new manager Erik ten Hag next season, after underperforming for the last two seasons.

The French striker was United's Players' Player of the Year for the 2019/20 campaign after he scored 23 goals in all competitions.

It seemed a revelation by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to use the player as a number nine, a position that he desired to operate in since his move to Old Trafford in 2015.

However, the following season saw Martial's goalscoring numbers fall from a cliff.

The striker that seemed like one of the most clinical in Europe began to miss chances left, right and centre. His most memorable being a sitter against PSG in the Champions League.

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Strangely, during the first half of that season, Martial still was playing well despite not scoring. Creating chances, working well on the ball, it seemed like it was a matter of time before he broke his duck and returned to the form of the season prior.

Ultimately though, his confidence spiralled down and his all-round game began to weaken as Edinson Cavani finished the campaign strongly.

That followed through to last season, where Martial's chances through the middle were limited through the purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo. He started just two Premier League games before leaving to Sevilla on loan in January.

Again, things didn't work out for the player in Spain, and it seemed like he was destined to be sold this summer, but he could have been given a lifeline.

Ronaldo, who re-joined United last summer, is asking to leave the club who dropped out of the Champions League. With Cavani also out of the door, it opens up an opportunity for the Frenchman.

Martial has returned to training with the squad and will be hoping to impress Ten Hag so that he can be a part of his plans for next season.

The Dutch manager was able to get the best out of Sebastian Haller at Ajax, who was proclaimed a Premier League flop before the move. He has since secured a transfer to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Supporters will be hoping that he can do the same for Martial, who was a fan-favourite when he was performing in Solskjaer's first full season as manager.

There would certainly need to be issues ironed out of the forward's game, such as his lack of 'strikers runs' and in-the-box instincts.

However, he also has some attributes which could very well intrigue Ten Hag.

A cool touch, good in link up play and can turn and run at defenders better than most in United's squad. When Martial is on-form he can certainly be a dangerous proposition for opposing defenders.

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He is not a 'true' striker, and that could cause issues when his finishing hits dips, as we saw over the last two seasons, but with Cavani out of the door and Ronaldo likely to join him, there is a chance for the 25-year-old to reignite his Old Trafford form.

The first pre-season game of Ten Hag's tenure is in less than a weeks time, on 12 July, when they face Liverpool in Thailand. Martial will be desperate for an opportunity to prove himself on the tour.