Erik ten Hag has already answered Wayne Rooney’s ‘difficult’ question about the Manchester United striker

A number of Manchester United players are set to leave this summer, not least those who are out of contract.

Raphael Varane bid farewell to Old Trafford in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Newcastle, while Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans will also see their bids fail next month. Only four players are wrong against sales this summer, with Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho going nowhere.

But the likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen could be given the door, while United will let Bruno Fernandes leave if an irresistible offer suits both club and captain. One player sure to come out is Anthony Martial.

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He has missed the last 27 games and a total of 70 games over the last three seasons with eight different injuries. His contract expires this summer, having not hit a ball since early December.

Roy Keane says constant failures will make Martial an unattractive prospect for a new club, while former team-mate of two years Wayne Rooney admitted to Sky Sports that he cannot remember the last time he saw Martial on the pitch.

“He’s a very nice guy. But where has he been? I can’t remember the last time I saw him play. What’s up with him?” admitted the former England captain.

Martial’s last outing for United was the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on 9 December, having been ruled out for the rest of the month due to illness. He then required groin surgery in the new year and has been unable to return to fitness since.

In February, it was suggested to Erik ten Hag that Martial was not a reliable asset and that more provisions should be made in the forward department. “It’s very naive,” he replied.

“Strikers are not cheap. We thought we had options. But when (the martial injury) developed, I wanted to bring a striker in the winter, but it was not possible.

“And similarly there were the problems we already had with FFP in the summer. There was a real lack of good options. That’s why we were very happy to sign Rasmus Hojlund, who is a player of his caliber Manchester United.”

Martial missed 33 games last season, including the League Cup and FA Cup finals, prompting Ten Hag to question his long-term role in their plans. “Look it’s hard to say because history says otherwise,” the manager said in April 2023.

“I want him (here) because I think he’s a great player – he’s definitely got the qualities to play top-flight football – and when he’s fit, our team plays better.” However, the absence of a renewal suggests the boss has changed his mind about an exit for the striker after another injury-plagued year.

Martial could also miss this year’s FA Cup final and could have already played his last Premier League game for United, with the Frenchman a doubt for Sunday’s trip to Brighton.

Martial arrived from Monaco in 2015 in a £36m deal and will leave for nothing next month after 90 goals and 47 assists in 317 games.