Anthony Martial’s contract is up at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)
Erik ten Hag is adamant Manchester United have no intention of selling Anthony Martial in the January transfer window.
United retain the option to extend the former Monaco forward’s deal by a further 12 months but there appears little desire to activate that clause.
Ten Hag would welcome the opportunity to add to his attacking options in the January transfer window but funds are likely to be in short supply, despite confirmation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover.
United were restricted to signing Wout Weghorst on loan 12 months ago following the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo but spent £72m in the summer on Rasmus Hojlund.
The Denmark international has struggled to live up to his enormous price tag and has gone a worrying 14 games without scoring a Premier League goal.
Martial, meanwhile, has fared little better, scoring only twice in all competitions this season but Ten Hag maintains he has little desire to let Martial leave with attacking options in such short supply.
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Asked ahead of tonight’s game against Aston Villa if there was any chance of Martial leaving next month Ten Hag said: ‘When we have news, then of course I will tell it. But that is not our aim.’
Ten Hag, meanwhile, says United need to get Old Trafford rocking in a bid to put their season back on track.
United host high-flying Villa on Boxing Day, three days after slumping to a 2-0 defeat at West Ham, in what will be their first game since it was announced that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club.
The Hammers defeat was their 13th loss in 26 matches this term, and a 20th defeat in 2023 – their worst tally in a calendar year since 1989.
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp criticised the atmosphere at Anfield following their Carabao Cup win over the Hammers last week, and Ten Hag knows he needs to give the Old Trafford faithful something to shout about.
‘I am sure they are very disappointed in us and we have to put things right and do things different,’ said the United chief.
‘We appreciate all the time they are supporting us. With all the setbacks this season, they are all the time behind us and we really appreciate that. Of course we need any help but first of all I and the team have to do it.’
MORE : Dwight Yorke names three players Manchester United should have signed instead of Rasmus Hojlund
MORE : Erik ten Hag rates Manchester United youngters Willy Kambwala’s debut against West Ham
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