Manchester United 'do NOT intend to extend Anthony Martial's contract' which expires at the end of the season - with Red Devils' chiefs 'expected to let the forward leave for free'

Manchester United do not intend to activate the option to extend Anthony Martial's contract when it expires at the end of this season, according to reports.

The French striker has entered the final year of his deal at Old Trafford and the club have the ability to grant him another 12 months.

But according to The Athletic, the United hierarchy are willing to let Martial leave for free at the end of the season and have no interest in renewing his deal. 

Martial signed a new five-year deal believed to be worth £250,000 a week with the Red Devils in 2019, which included a clause allowing United to extend his stay by 12 months. 

Given the fact United are hesitant to extend Martial's deal, it could spell a potential January exit for the forward - although interested clubs will know he will be available for free in the summer.

Martial signed for United back in 2015 from French side Monaco in a deal worth £36million, making him the most-expensive teenager in football history. 

His initial deal contained three bonus clauses worth £7.2 million each, taking the potential fee to £57.6 million. £44.7 million ended up being the total fee.

One of the clauses was centred around the French forward potentially winning football's most prestigious individual prize, the Ballon d'Or.

After a bright start to his United career, which included a superb individual goal against Liverpool on his debut, Martial has fallen someway short of expectations and has struggled to find his best form at Old Trafford. 

During his eight years at the club, Martial has scored just 90 goals in 317 games. His highest tally in a season came in 2019-20, when he scored 23 goals in 48 games.

Martial has not completed 90 minutes in the Premier League since United's 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield United in January 2021. 

The Frenchman also endured a disastrous six-month loan spell at Sevilla last January after being deemed surplus to requirements at United.

Recently, Erik ten Hag jumped to the defence of Martial after he was booed off during Manchester United's 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.

United suffered an embarrassing defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday as Andoni Iraola's side extended their unbeaten run to five games.

Dominic Solanke, Phillip Billing and Marcos Senesi all scored to pile further pressure on boss Ten Hag. 

As a result the Dutchman spoke about Martial after the striker produced a lacklustre performance on Saturday, managing just one effort on goal and recording the fewest touches of any starter. 

Ten Hag insisted: 'Two weeks ago against Everton he played a very good game!

'So he has absolutely the competencies and the abilities to play so I don't think it's fair, after a performance like this, to go to one player now. As a group we failed, altogether.'