Next Thierry Henry' set for move to Old Trafford

For the second straight year, Manchester United are turning to French Ligue 1 club Monaco to solve their striker shortage in the final hours of Europe's summer transfer window.

Twelve months ago, it was Radamel Falcao. This time, it's Anthony Martial.

Martial, a 19-year-old forward who has been compared to Thierry Henry, was granted permission to leave France's national squad to sign a contract at Old Trafford.

He will reportedly cost United 36 million (HK$429.773), a hefty fee for a player who has just been called up by France for the first time ahead of friendlies against Serbia and Portugal.

United are taking a gamble on Martial after the team scored just three goals in their opening four matches of the English Premier League season.

His arrival comes just after United boss Louis van Gaal said he would not jump into the transfer market to solve his side's goal-scoring problems following a 2-1 defeat at Swansea City. Wayne Rooney has been used by van Gaal as a lone striker, but hasn't scored in the league since April 4.

Martial can play as a winger or as a central striker, and has played at all youth levels for France. He scored nine goals in 35 league matches last season and is widely regarded as one of the brightest young players in French football.

Martial joined Monaco from Lyon in 2013 for five million euros (HK$43.54 million).

His switch to United follows a loan move for Falcao that didn't turn out well for the Red Devils, with the Colombia striker


scoring four goals in 29 appearances. United rejected the opportunity to sign Falcao on a permanent basis and also sold Robin van Persie before this season began.

The transfer window closes in England tomorrow (HK time).

One issue still dogging van Gaal is about goalkeeper David De Gea, who the manager dropped following months of speculation linking the Spaniard with a move to Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Kevin de Bruyne's record transfer to Manchester City earned Wolfsburg a reported 79.8 million euros, but raised concerns about the drain of German Bundesliga talent to England.

De Bruyne joins Tottenham's Son Heung Min, Liverpool's Roberto Firmino and United's Bastian Schweinsteiger in the group of Bundesliga players who have moved to England. Those four signings alone combined have earned their former Bundesliga clubs around 170 million euros.