Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has made another brave decision regarding Antony Martial’s future – with the Frenchman reportedly set to leave Old Trafford next summer. 

Martial looks likely to leave Old Trafford at the end of his ninth season at the club, having originally joined for a record-breaking £36million fee, rising to £58m move from Monaco, in the summer of 2015. It made him the most expensive teenage footballer at the time.

But now 28, Martial’s move which promised the world, and even had a Ballon d’Or clause inserted in his deal, never lived up to the heights expected before and during the early stages of his United career.

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According to The Athletic, United don’t intend to activate the one-year option to extend Martial’s contract which will expire at the end of the season. It’s said that as things stand the Old Trafford hierarchy are expected to let the Frenchman leave for free next summer, but will also listen to suitable offers to recoup some kind of transfer fee in January.

If Martial is to leave Old Trafford, it could create funds and space for a new signing to arrive to strengthen their faltering attack. United have scored just 18 goals in 16 Premier League games – the lowest of any team in the top 14 of the table and 15 less than Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion who all occupy places around United in the table.

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Ten Hag made the call to not trigger the extension clause in David De Gea’s contract last summer, and it seems to be a similar ploy with Martial as he looks to get rid of the underperforming high-earning players at the club.

Despite looking as though he has no long-term future at Old Trafford, Martial has started three of United’s last four league games, and scored his first goal of the season against Everton in the 3-0 win last month.

But after another lacklustre display in United’s embarrassment at the hands of Bournemouth on Saturday, Martial was subbed off to huge cheers for £72million man Rasmus Hojlund who is yet to bag in 12 league games at the club.

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