Manchester United must learn Anthony Martial transfer market lesson

After showcasing highly promising signs upon his arrival in England in 2015, Anthony Martial's time at Manchester United seems to be coming to an end.

Sevilla have agreed to loan the Frenchman for the rest of the season, with the 26 year-old rumoured to desire a fresh start away from Old Trafford.

His potential was undeniable as a teenager but throughout his time in Manchester, Martial has struggled to maintain consistent performances over long periods. Instead, he developed a reputation for streaky bouts of form.

There is likely to be a number of reasons behind why Martial failed to reach his ceiling at United, but much of the blame could be attributed to how the club have constructed their first-team squad over the years.

The Red Devils have been imbalanced for some time, often signing players based on their status or individual ability rather than their suitability to improving one specific system or way of playing.

Since Martial arrived at the club, his naturally preferred space to the left of the team's attack has been constantly occupied by others, with Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba also favouring that area of the pitch.

During the last summer transfer window, United signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, both of whom also like to drift towards the left of the final third before cutting inside and finding the back of the net.

Rather than United signing players who would help Martial maximise his impact on the pitch, the club have instead added more and more competition for him.

At their best under Sir Alex Ferguson, United had players who naturally complemented one another without the need for specific tactical instructions.

Paul Scholes switched the play with passes often, and that benefited the team's