COMMENT: They'd be excited, wouldn't they? Manchester United fans. If they were told United were signing a striker from Didier Deschamps' France squad. One with bags of experience. Multiple titles. And still only 25. They'd be excited...

So why still the split over Anthony Martial? Why are stories - better yet, fliers - being given credence that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to sell his No9? Because he's not. The manager has no plans to sell Martial this summer. He never had. And even the very minute chance of Solskjaer wavering on his commitment has now been extinguished via Edinson Cavani's decision to go public with his plans this past week.

Solskjaer has devoted too much time and effort into Martial to let another manager reap the benefit. Hours upon hours on the Carrington training pitch. The finishing. The positioning. Like Luke Shaw. Like Fred. Martial has been another of those 'projects' of Solskjaer's. He long saw a No9 in the Frenchman. He still does. Indeed, Solskjaer has told his top brass that United can win the league with Martial as their prime striker. That's how much he believes in the player's talent.

And affirming Solskjaer's work was the U-turn this season performed by Didier Deschamps, France's World Cup winning coach. From being happy to ignore Martial, even on the back of a career best campaign in 2019/20, Deschamps did all he could to find room for the United man in the lead up to the Euros. Deschamps wanted Martial involved. For his form. His ability. But also his attitude around Clarefontaine and his France teammates. Under Solskjaer, Martial is a man transformed - to the point where he was a necessity for France's World Cup winners.

"He is part of the group of players who have not been here for a long period of time," explained Deschamps before Christmas, "but he has changed during this period, on the pitch and off of it.

"With years, he has also gained maturity. He is much more determined - he already had quality. Things are more concrete."

Solid. Dependable. "Concrete". Not normally words associated with Martial. A reputation, particularly one that drags, can be hard to shake. And it's a shame, a real shame, that as much as Martial threw everything at proving he was over a March knee injury, he didn't make Deschamps' cut. The France coach, however, insisting he'd have taken Martial if he could've been sure of his fitness. Indeed, this column was told by a source within the France Football Federation, just as we've learned from Carrington, that there was genuine disappointment that his efforts weren't rewarded, "Time just worked against him".

Martial all smiles with his France teammates

As Solskjaer stated in the lead up to the Europa League final, Martial did everything he could to get back for club and country: "We are hoping he will be available for the final. He has worked really hard. He has been very thorough. Very enthusiastic."

Again, for whatever reason, there's a chasm between what those whom matter say about Martial and how he is portrayed in some quarters of the media.

Martial will be 26 in December. This summer's market will mark six years since his arrival from AS Monaco. For Solskjaer and his staff, Martial is now viewed as a senior player. A locker room leader. Not one to bawl and shout. But certainly one to set an example. They've been looking to Martial to grow into such a role - and he hasn't fumbled such a show of confidence.

"Anthony knows what we want and is working really hard to do well for the team," said Solskjaer just before Martial's knee setback.

"That's what's pleasing me every day in training.

"He's not going to sit down and wait for things to happen. He knows he will have to make it happen himself."

Those words were spoken in the lead up to what would be Martial's final game of the season - United winning 2-0 at Manchester City. Significantly, Martial didn't get on the scoresheet, but was the outstanding player on the pitch in the centre-forward's role. He never hid. He played with his back to goal. He did the unseen, unspoken stuff. But still dominated the headlines with his play when in possession. It was a matchwinning, centre-forward's performance. A memory for the cynics to take into the new campaign.

Martial doesn't deserve to be the subject of transfer gossip. Particularly when it comes to speculation about clearouts and attitude problems. Such claims just don't square away with what we've seen from Martial over these past two seasons.

But his fans needn't worry. Solskjaer won't sell him. He's invested too much in the player to see him leave now.

“He has the capability [to reach 20 goals]," said the Norwegian just weeks into his first season with Martial. “We are going to build his career and hopefully he will grab the chance with both feet."

Over two years on and the results of the commitment of both men are clear to see. The idea of a split just doesn't make sense.

And simply in practical terms, the need to find a successor for Edinson Cavani remains the priority - particularly after the Uruguayan's comments this week.

"Honestly, that's what I think now," the veteran said from Brazil, confirming plans to hang up the boots next summer. "After the World Cup in Qatar I want to dedicate myself to my family, my people, my things."

So a new centre-forward will still need to be found. Finding a replacement for Cavani will be hard enough, let alone needing to find another attacker should Martial be sold. It just isn't going to happen.

After missing the final three months of the season, Martial's return will be like a new signing. One good enough for France's attack. And to lead the line for United. For United fans, such a prospect should be as exciting as any new striker addition.