Manchester United fans have been left less than impressed after Arsenal have made an audacious attempt to sign fan favourite Anthony Martial.
The Gunners have suggested that Martial, who joined United in the summer of 2015 from AS Monaco, could be used as a makeweight in a potential deal for the want-away Alexis Sanchez.
United have emerged as shock favourites to land the Chile international after Manchester City pulled out of the race for his signature over the players astronomical wage demands and Arsenal’s asking price.
United had hoped to land the former Barcelona man for around £40 million, but have since now stated they would prefer a swap deal involving their own struggling star Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The Armenian has made only two starts this season for Jose Mourinho’s side, and is thought to be considering his future at Old Trafford as he looks for more regular first team football, and it is understood United would be willing to let him move to the Gunners if it meant Alexis Sanchez coming the other way.
With Mkhitarayn stalling over his future however, Arsenal instead chose to turn their attention to Anthony Martial – with Arsene Wenger hoping he can land the Frenchman as part of the deal that would see Sanchez move to Old Trafford.
Unlike Mkhitaryan however, Martial has been one of United’s stand out players this season. The former AS Monaco star has scored 10 goals and produced seven assists this campaign, and was on the scoresheet again on Monday night in a 3-0 win over Stoke City, curling home a superb second for United just before half time.
The United fans have been less than impressed with what they have described as Arsenal’s ‘laughable’ attempt to take Martial away from Manchester …
https://twitter.com/utdxtra/status/951802526197837825
And Arsenal really thought they could get Anthony Martial in a swap deal? Behave.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) January 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/ManUtdVines/status/953004655365287936
Photographic evidence of the moment a young Anthony Martial suddenly realised that one day Arsenal would come in with a ludicrous attempt to sign him in a swap deal. pic.twitter.com/IfyuZfPwkp
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/pranavagarwal2/status/953229990195179521
https://twitter.com/Ammadutd/status/953169827040038912
https://twitter.com/_MidKnightGaz/status/953003710648672258
https://twitter.com/theunitedmanc/status/952989443559845888
Martial when he was asked if he wanted to go to Arsenal pic.twitter.com/pg3OjW6RBu
— KingMusa (@Darkseidisnt) January 15, 2018