Ex-Man Utd star Martial eyed as surprise replacement for West Ham flop

Tom Weber

• Updated: 5 Aug 2024 17:16 BST
• 3 min read

Anthony Martial has emerged as an injury replacement for Gianluca Scamacca, according to a report.

The former Man Utd forward is a free agent after seeing his contract at Old Trafford expire. Martial left Manchester after nine years in which he mostly failed to live up to his hefty €60 million price tag.

There has been plenty of talk surrounding a return to Ligue 1 for the former Monaco man, but it seems that his future may actually lie in Italy. In fact, the Man Utd flop could replace a West Ham flop in Bergamo.

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Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca tore his ACL in a recent friendly with Parma and will now face several months on the sidelines. The 25-year-old returned to Serie A last year after an unimpressive year at West Ham, who had paid €38.6m for the Italian.

Scamacca impressed last term as Atalanta won the Europa League and he featured for Italy at Euro 2024 but without having much of an impact. Now, La Dea will have to make do without their star striker.

Martial to Serie A?

Sky Sports reports that the Bergamo-based outfit have taken an interest in former Man Utd man Martial as a potential replacement for Scamacca.

Atalanta are still weighing up whether the Frenchman should really be the man to lead their line next season, but the interest is genuine, it is claimed.

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Martial, meanwhile, is not interested in moving to Marseille, with whom he has been frequently linked for months. The feeling is said to be mutual as French media already reported in February that the Ligue 1 giants had absolutely no interest in the 28-year-old and that they were baffled by the links.

A potential move to Besiktas has also been played down, though it is asserted that Martial is being courted by Lille and clubs from MLS, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.