Liga MX side Pumas are interested in signing Anthony Martial on loan, but the ex-Manchester United forward appears unwilling to take a pay cut.

• Martial no more in AEK Athens' plans
• Pumas want to sign the French striker
• Negotiations at halt as deadline day closes in

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  AEK Athens are seeking to offload the French striker, with Pumas interested in his signature, but reports the ex-United forward's wages are acting as a roadblock in the negotiations. Martial is one of the highest-paid individuals in the Athens squad and has a contract with the Greek club that runs until 2027.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Martial joined United in 2015 after an impressive season with Monaco, in a then record-breaking deal for a teenager worth €42m (£36m/$48m). The French striker went on to play 319 games for the Premier League club, in which he scored 90 goals. In his debut season with Athens last year, Martial played 23 games and scored nine goals and provided two assists. However, the club no longer have him in their plans and have agreed to a Pumas loan move. The negotiations with the player's camp are ongoing in the hopes of finalising it before the window closes this week.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Martial rose at Monaco after joining from Lyon in 2013, impressing in Ligue 1 and the Champions League before moving to United. At Old Trafford, he showed flashes of brilliance, notably scoring 23 goals in 2019-20 alongside Marcus Rashford, but inconsistency, injuries, and strained relations with managers – particularly Jose Mourinho – hampered his progress. After nine uneven seasons marked by limited playing time and recurring fitness issues, he left the club.

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  WHAT'S NEXT FOR MARTIAL?

  Should the move to Pumas go through, the 29-year-old will be linking up with ex-Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey and ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas as the Mexican side hopes to battle for the prestigious Apertura title.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News