Just 11 years ago this month, Manchester United made history by paying a then-record transfer fee for a teenager to sign Anthony Martial from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.

The French forward wasted little time making an impression. Within two weeks of completing his move, Martial announced himself in spectacular fashion, gliding past Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel on his Old Trafford debut before curling a superb effort into the far corner in front of the Stretford End.

It was a dream introduction at the Theatre of Dreams.

Injuries have plagued Martial’s career

What appeared to be the beginning of a hugely successful career in Manchester ultimately proved to be one of the few bright spots of a largely underwhelming spell at the club.

Martial remained at Manchester United for almost nine years before eventually leaving permanently, with injuries repeatedly disrupting his progress.

A loan move to Sevilla in 2022 offered the Frenchman an opportunity to revive his career, but fitness problems once again got in the way. He made just 12 appearances for the Spanish side, scoring one goal and providing one assist.

Had Martial not struggled so frequently with injuries — more than 40 separate issues during his Manchester United career — there is a strong argument that he could have developed into one of the club’s recent success stories.

Since leaving United permanently, Martial has continued his career with Greek side AEK Athens and Liga MX outfit Monterrey, although neither move has delivered the impact the Frenchman would have hoped for.

Just one goal in 20 games for Monterrey

Martial made 24 appearances for AEK Athens, scoring nine goals and providing one assist. His spell with Monterrey has been less productive, with the striker finding the net just once and registering three assists in 20 games.

Those numbers hardly reflect the output expected from a top-level striker. Nevertheless, Martial, who is currently a free agent, is reportedly keen to find a route back into the Premier League.

After mutually agreeing to terminate his two-year contract with Monterrey in June, Martial still had almost two and a half months remaining in the transfer window for interested clubs to make a move for him.

The fact that no serious offers materialised during that period appeared to underline the concerns surrounding the Frenchman, with the lack of interest speaking for itself.

Several Premier League clubs approached

However, reports now suggest that David Moyes could be open to taking a gamble on Martial at Everton, while the player’s representatives have also reportedly made contact with Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur.

It remains unclear whether any of those clubs would be prepared to offer Martial a contract, either on a pay-as-you-play basis or through another short-term arrangement.

As a free agent, though, the 29-year-old can join a club outside the transfer window, potentially making him an inexpensive option for teams looking to add attacking depth.

Martial will turn 31 in three months, and while that certainly does not mean his career is over, he is now beyond the age generally considered a player’s peak years. Any club considering a move for the Frenchman will therefore need to take his age and recent record into account before making a commitment.

Everton arguably have the most pressing need for attacking reinforcements following the late collapse of Folarin Balogun’s proposed move on deadline day.

Everton need attacking cover

The Toffees now head into the coming months with Thierno Barry as their only experienced central striker. Even if Martial is not viewed as a long-term solution, his availability could offer Everton valuable short-term cover at a time when their options up front are limited.

However, the biggest concern for David Moyes — or any other interested manager — is Martial’s lack of consistent production in recent seasons, particularly during spells in leagues considered below the level of the Premier League.

That makes it understandable why Premier League clubs may be reluctant to take a chance on Martial, even with the fact that he would arrive without a transfer fee.

There are also concerns over his current match fitness. Having been without competitive football for some time, Martial is likely to need several weeks to regain his sharpness before he can perform at his best.

Even then, there is no guarantee that the level he can reach will be good enough to meet the expectations of a Premier League club.

Like Jesse Lingard, Federico Macheda and others who have struggled to reach the heights expected of them after leaving Manchester United, Martial could discover that his time at Old Trafford represented the peak of his career.

At this stage, he may need to lower his expectations and consider a move further down the footballing ladder if he wants to secure regular playing time and rebuild his career.

Lingard eventually joined Corinthians following a spell in South Korea, while Macheda, now 35, remains active in the game and has moved through 12 clubs since leaving United, with Greek side Asteras Tripolis his latest destination.

Martial may therefore need to take a more realistic approach to his next move. Alternatively, he could still find an opportunity in England and enjoy one final chance to prove himself in the Premier League.