Everton vs Manchester United: Anthony Martial wanted by Toffees manager Roberto Martinez - and ended up with Lacina Traore

Martinez wanted to sign an 18-year-old Martial on loan but Monaco bloced the move and allowed Traore to move to Goodison Park instead

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial was wanted on loan by Everton (Getty Images)

Everton will become the latest Premier League side to try and stop Anthony Martial from continuing his impressive start to life at Manchester United, but under different circumstances he could have been lining up for the Toffees.

That’s the suggestion from Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who revealed on Thursday that he had attempted to sign Martial on loan after he struggled to settle in at Monaco following a move in 2014 from fellow Ligue 1 side Lyon.

Martinez said that he had tried to sign the teenager when his chief scout, Kevin Reeves, recommended him as a possible loan signing, but Monaco were reluctant to let him leave the club and instead gave him a new contract.

Instead, Monaco allowed fellow striker Lacina Traore move to Goodison Park in a January loan move, but the Ivorian was injured almost immediately and departed having endured an unsuccessful spell on Merseyside.

While all the plaudits have fallen at Martial’s feet following his £36m move to Old Trafford – the most a club has ever paid for a teenager – Martinez stressed that fans should not write off his team-mate and United captain Wayne Rooney.

Having rekindled his relationship with Everton fans after he appeared for the Toffees in Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial in pre-season, Rooney is set to lead his current side out at Goodison in a bid to get United’s Premier League title challenge back on tract following the disappointing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal last time out.

What Wayne has given to England is incredible

&#13; <p>Roberto Martinez, Everton manager</p>&#13;

The striker has come under criticism during the international break though with the belief that England may be a better side without the skipper starting to gain some momentum.

However, Martinez quickly stressed that Rooney should not be written off, and believes that the striker is appreciated much more outside of England than he is by his own supporters.

“What Wayne has given to England is incredible,” said Martinez. “I don’t think he gets appreciated by the public in general. I think the appreciation from the outside is a lot kinder than it is here. I don’t know why. That’s the reality.”