Leeds United have reportedly been contacted by representatives of free agent striker Anthony Martial about a potential transfer. The 30-year-old French forward is seeking a new club after mutually terminating his contract with Mexican side C.F. Monterrey in June.
Intermediaries acting for Martial have made contact with Leeds to gauge interest. The Whites are currently eighth in the Premier League with four points from their opening two matches, having scored two goals and conceded one. Daniel Farke's side are two points behind leaders Manchester City ahead of their next fixture against Newcastle United on September 14th.
Anthony Martial is a 30-year-old French striker who spent nine seasons at Manchester United before departing in 2023. His time at Old Trafford was marked by flashes of brilliance but ultimately fell short of early expectations, leading some to label him a flop relative to his initial transfer fee. After leaving United, he spent one season with AEK Athens in Greece before moving to C.F. Monterrey in Mexico.
His stint in Mexico lasted just one season and yielded only a single goal before his contract was terminated by mutual consent in June. "The bloke only scored one goal during his time in Mexico!" noted the LeedsAllOver report. Martial has been without a club since becoming a free agent three months ago.
Leeds United's striking options have seen changes this summer. Joel Piroe departed for West Ham United during the transfer window, leaving Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha as the senior strikers available to manager Daniel Farke. The club made seven signings overall during the summer window, including deadline day arrivals Melvin Bard and Jean-Matteo Bahoya.
Farke confirmed that both Bard and Bahoya could feature in Saturday's game against Brighton. With the transfer window now closed, any move for Martial would have to wait until the January window opens, unless he signs as a free agent outside the registration period. The club currently has three players sidelined with injuries, including striker Mateo Joseph.
Leeds are not the only Premier League side to have been mentioned in connection with the French forward. The report also listed Everton, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Brighton, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur as clubs that have been linked with Martial at various points. This suggests his representatives are casting a wide net to find him a new employer in England's top flight.
His previous connection to Manchester United adds an intriguing layer to any potential move to Elland Road, given the historic rivalry between the two clubs. The report referenced journalist Beren Cross, suggesting that if Leeds had actually been offered Martial, Cross would likely have reported it given his connections to the club.
The timing presents a significant hurdle. With the transfer window having closed, Leeds cannot register new players until January unless they are free agents signing outside the window. Even then, the club's ownership group, the 49ers, might block such a move given Martial's age, recent record, and high wage expectations from his Manchester United days.
Leeds currently sit in eighth position in the standings, having taken four points from a possible six. Their next match is at home against sixth-placed Newcastle United on September 14th, a fixture that will test their early-season form. The club's summer business appears complete with seven new arrivals, and Farke will likely focus on integrating Bard and Bahoya into his squad first.
Any serious move for Anthony Martial would represent a surprise given his modest output in recent seasons and the availability of other options. For now, it remains an approach from his camp rather than formal negotiations with Leeds United.
