Anthony Martial has started the season in fine form.
The Frenchman has come off the bench in both of Manchester United’s Premier League games this season and impressed with a goal in each cameo. Not only has his cool finishing caught the eye, but the 21-year-old has impressed with his overall play and blood-twisting dribbles.
As Jose Mourinho still hopes against hope of adding another signing to his Old Trafford ranks before August is out, and the much talked about ‘fourth player’ is quite clearly an attacking wide player, fans have been somewhat concerned about what this could mean for their beloved Martial.
But whether or not Jose does get his wish, and the player in question – most likely Ivan Perisic – does sign in the next fortnight, Martial admirers needn’t worry. The Old Trafford boss has stressed that any potential recruit wouldn’t act as direct competition to his mercurial French ace.
As Mourinho puts it:
“I have faith in [Anthony Martial]. Probably, the [fourth] player I was looking at in the transfer market was not a pure winger. As a pure attacking option, Martial is a good player. He is one of the players who will have a better season than last season. I have pure wingers. The player I was looking for would allow me to play three at the back and play with wing-backs.”
Perisic may not boast the most exciting name in world football, but his very specific attributes include excellent all-round stamina, a tremendous work ethic, and an eagerness to track back when his side are not in possession.
From Mourinho’s comments, it seems clear that he had hoped to utilise the Croatian on the left, to compliment the drive and attacking intent of Antonio Valencia on the right, each on either side of a back three. This would still allow him to play Martial and a combination of other forwards in attack.
In spite of the Portuguese’s recent suggestions that a ‘fourth player’ is highly unlikely now, speculation remains that United will make one final push for Perisic in the remaining days of the window – and it needn’t concern a certain in-form Frenchman.
