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Football

09th May 2018

Anthony Martial’s Manchester United departure could spell bad news for Liverpool

Martial's days at United appear numbered

Simon Lloyd

Anthony Martial continues to be linked with a move away from Manchester United.

The French international is, according to reports, being eyed by a number of European clubs, including Barcelona and Juventus. It was also reported by the Independent on Tuesday that United may even be open to selling him to Chelsea – if Willian was allowed to move in the opposite direction.

The latest report on Martial, from the Mirror, also suggests the 22-year-old could be involved in a swap deal, this time involving Borussia Dortmund.

They claim Jose Mourinho is willing to send Martial to the German club if it means exciting youngster Christian Pulisic moves to Old Trafford as part of the deal.

Pulisic, a 19-year-old United States international, has been attracting interest from a number of the continent’s top clubs. Several English sides are also believed to have been monitoring his progress in the Bundesliga, with Liverpool most strongly linked with the forward.

Only last week the Mirror reported that Klopp was poised to move for Pulisic for a third time having first bid for the player in 2016. Such transfer plans could be scuppered should United be willing to offer a Martial-plus-cash deal.

Pulisic, who can play as a winger or in a more central role, is said to be valued at around £40m by Dortmund – surprisingly cheap given some of the incredibly inflated transfer fees we saw last summer.

Martial arrived at Old Trafford at the end of the summer transfer window in 2015, instantly proving a hit with the United fans for his debut goal against Liverpool. Although he has shown frequent flashes of his undoubted ability while in Manchester, Mourinho is said to have grown frustrated with his lack of consistency, with his showing in last Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Brighton said to be the final straw.