via Reuters
Everton could be handed the chance to resurrect a disastrous end to the transfer window by recruiting former Manchester United striker Anthony Martial.
The Toffees saw their attacking ranks raided ahead of the deadline with Iliman Ndiaye completing a lucrative £65 million move to Manchester City and Beto making the switch to Fiorentina.
Those transfers have left David Moyes with just one centre-forward available in Thierno Barry. The 23-year-old has been in fine form this term, but the Merseyside outfit are just one injury away from disaster.
Everton offered chance to sign former Man Utd striker Anthony Martial
anthony martial athens
GiveMeSport sources understand that Everton have been offered Martial as a free agent. The transfer window may be closed in the Premier League, but that does not stop clubs from signing currently unattached players.
Martial is looking for a new venture having left Mexican side Monterrey as a free agent. Two Ligue 1 sides and La Liga outfit Malaga have been credited with interest in the 30-year-old, but it appears that the player's preference is a return to the Premier League.
The striker made 209 Premier League appearances over his nine years at Man Utd, scoring 63 goals and registering 33 assists. Since leaving Old Trafford in 2024, Martial has spent time in Greece with AEK Athens before signing a two-year deal with Monterrey a year ago - a contract which was terminated early by mutual agreement.
Speaking after Deadline Day, Moyes had confirmed that Everton were browsing the free agent market to fill a depleted squad, having used just 19 of 25 available places on their Premier League roster.
The Scotsman said: "Disappointed we didn't do more business, disappointed things didn't go our way in the end. But sometimes in football you have to live with disappointments and we will and we'll move on.
"We're looking at the free agents' market but I want a team that can be at the top end and can challenge.
"The disappointment would be that I want to keep pushing on and for the players to believe we're going in the right direction."
Links with Martial are easy for Everton supporters to get excited about, but that emotion may stem more from desperation and nostalgia.There's no denying that the Toffees must recruit a forward to help Barry, but rushing into a decision could come back to bite the club.
Martial has an impressive Premier League record and, at his best, brought so much to Man Utd. The Frenchman is not only a capable finisher, but a creative force - both aspects of play lost through the sale of Ndiaye.
Type a player name in the box below to reveal each answer
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
However, the 124-goal striker hasn't played a competitive match since March and had a blighted injury record even when at his fittest. While working with Martial at Old Trafford, former manager Erik ten Hag said:
"He has to work on that [playing more consistently]. He has to be more available.
"He can't do nothing for it in that sense, it's sometimes also bad luck. But sometimes you don't know also really the cause, what the reason behind it is. But when he is there, he's really important for us because we play our best football when he is available.
"He has to be aware of that as well. If we want to be successful, we need him. And the first thing is he has to be available."
||
Anthony Martial in the Premier League
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
Everton risk repeating Dele Alli transfer error
Everton's Dele Alli
Premier League - Everton v Leeds United - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - February 12, 2022 Everton's Dele Alli in action Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
Those warning words are some that Everton must heed. A move for Martial has all the hallmarks of a similar Everton deal in 2022.
The Toffees snapped up an out-of-form Dele Alli amid injuries to Abdoulaye Doucoure, Fabian Delph and the departure of Jean-Philippe Gbamin. At the time, Frank Lampard spoke of his hope to revive Alli.
When fit and firing, both Alli and Martial have been top Premier League players. If Everton ever got that version of Alli, he would have been a season-changer.
Ultimately, they did not, and never really had any concrete reason to hope that punt would pay off. Martial presents the same problem.
To sign a version of the striker capable of plundering 17 Premier League goals, Everton would have had to purchase the player in 2020. The club is stuck between a rock and a hard place, but nostalgia won't help a frustrated Moyes.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Gylfi Sigurdsson