Monterrey are on the verge of signing Anthony Martial on a season-long loan from Greek side AEK Athens.
The deal comes as a major surprise given that multiple sources highlighted that Martial was destined for fellow Liga MX side Pumas.
Los Universitarios have been searching far and wide for a new focal point to lead their attack, searching desperately for a player with European pedigree, and after months of scouting and negotiations, seemed set to sign the Frenchman.
Pumas enter the second half of the Liga MX Apertura with the second-quietest attack, only worsened by Necaxa and Puebla, with the latter sat rock-bottom of the table.
According to reports, Efrían Juárez's side have considered the likes of Andrea Belotti, Vincent Aboubakar and former Rangers frontman Alfredo Morelos. Despite their intent, the club has fallen flat in its attempts to sign a natural goalscorer, and given the departure of Rogelio Funes Mori to León, Juárez's team are light on players who have a natural talent for finding the back of the net.
Pumas' loss is the gain of rivals Monterrey. A team blessed with high-profile stars, Martial is set to join a blockbuster lineup, including Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales, Óliver Torres and Jesús Manuel Corona.
Reports suggest that his current side, AEK Athens, are keen to get the striker off their books, having scored seven goals in 19 games in the Greek Super League last season.
Most remembered for his seven years with Manchester United, Martial was destined for greatness after an unstoppable rise at his boyhood club AS Monaco. The 2015 Golden Boy winner caught the attention of the world with his performances in France, earning an €80,000,000 move to Manchester, even having a Ballon D'Or clause in his contract in case he reached the potential many people expected.
However, Martial's career has been associated with injuries. Across his seven years in the Premier League, he was cursed with 21 different injuries, forcing him to miss a significant amount of games for the club.
Nonetheless, Monterrey have seen the potential and want to gamble. Doménec Torrent has said all summer about the desire to sign a second forward to join German Berterame, with Los Rayados currently sitting top of the Apertura table, with the best attacking record.
Martial joins the blue half of the city and is set to go head-to-head with fellow Frenchman André-Pierre Gignac, who has enjoyed a hugely successful decade in Mexico since leaving Marseille for Tigres. Meanwhile, further south in the capital, Club América have confirmed the signing of Allan Saint-Maximin, the Nice-born winger who recently ended his stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.
Will Martial be able to emulate the history of André Pierre-Gignac? Let us know what you think?