Mason Greenwood has been a standout performer this season, in contrast to Manchester United’s struggling attack, which has raised concerns about Anthony Martial’s future.
With Anthony Martial’s contract set to expire and no signs of an extension, his future at Manchester United looks uncertain. In the meantime, Mason Greenwood has rediscovered his goal-scoring form while on loan at Getafe, and Erik ten Hag is reportedly in search of a new striker.
Martial’s United career seems to be coming to an uneventful end, having scored just once in 14 appearances this season and providing minimal impact as a substitute.
It’s a disappointing conclusion to his nine-year tenure at Old Trafford, marked by unfulfilled potential that was evident when he burst onto the scene as a promising teenager in 2015.
While Ten Hag is considering triggering one-year extensions for players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, and Hannibal Mejbri, there seems to be little hope for Martial to receive the same treatment.
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This has led to speculations about United pursuing a new striker in the upcoming January transfer window, possibly opting for a short-term solution, a trend that has become familiar to the club’s supporters over the past decade.
Names like FC Porto’s Mehdi Taremi, AS Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder, and Flamengo’s Gabriel Barbosa are reportedly on Ten Hag’s radar as potential additions to bolster the attack.
However, there’s a growing sentiment among the fanbase that the current struggles in United’s attacking department might prompt the reintegration of Mason Greenwood after his season-long loan spell in Spain.
The 22-year-old showcased his scoring prowess by netting twice in Getafe’s dominant 12-0 victory over Tardienta in the Copa del Rey last week, marking three goals in his last four matches.
Greenwood is contracted with United until 2025, with the option of an additional year, which means the club will need to make a decision on his future next summer, likely under a new sporting structure.
The involvement of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos in the club’s football operations by that time adds an extra layer of complexity, and it remains to be seen whether they will reconsider the initial plans set by chief executive Richard Arnold.
However, there have been reports suggesting that Greenwood’s future is already determined, and he won’t feature for United again, following a significant backlash in response to the rumored plan for his return this season.
Erik ten Hag’s quest for attacking reinforcements is driven by the underwhelming start of Rasmus Hojlund’s United career. The 20-year-old Dane is yet to find the net in eight Premier League appearances, with all three of his goals coming in the Champions League.
Nonetheless, the entire United forward line has been misfiring, with Marcus Rashford’s goal against Arsenal being the sole strike produced by Ten Hag’s forwards in 11 league matches this season.
This has raised the possibility of a potential addition in the mold of Wout Weghorst to alleviate the goal-scoring burden, while Greenwood is seemingly unlikely to be called upon again.
