Manchester United Transfer News: Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, West Ham Talk

Manchester United duo Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are reportedly being eyed by West Ham United as potential January loan targets as the Hammers look to kick-start their poor 2016-17 campaign. 

According to Matt Law in the Telegraph, West Ham are set to enquire as to whether either Martial or Rashford are available for a temporary move as they are in urgent need of a goalscorer, but United boss Jose Mourinho is unlikely to let either depart Old Trafford.

Law added that West Ham know their chances of landing either of the young forwards are "extremely slim," but they are pursuing all avenues following a poor opening half of the season which currently sees them lying 13th in the Premier League.

Rashford and Martial were two of few bright spots for United in 2015-16 as they both emerged as potential superstars of the future.

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Frenchman Martial, 21, was United's top goalscorer for the season following his high-profile summer move from Monaco, while 19-year-old Rashford stepped up from the youth ranks in February and became a star of the second half of the term.

Under Mourinho in 2016-17, though, the pair's form has dipped.

The competition for places is much more fierce following the summer arrivals of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but neither Rashford nor Martial have taken full advantage of the chances they have been given.

Rashford has not scored since September's Premier League clash with Leicester City—he has since appeared in 15 games for United—while Martial has clearly been frustrated by his lack of regular first-team action:

The pair remain valuable players in Mourinho's squad, though, and he could be major assets in the second half of the season if they can re-find their form.

United will begin their FA Cup campaign in January, they are in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, the last-32 of the UEFA Europa League and are back on track in their bid for a top-four spot in the Premier League after a decent run of results.

Given their ambitions, they will need all the squad depth they have if they are to claim silverware in 2016-17.

Martial and Rashford are still young and inexperienced, and, as such, it is unsurprising that they have endured recent dips in form.

Either could potentially benefit from a first-team run with West Ham but, given that they should have key roles to play in the second half of 2016-17 for United, it is unlikely they will be loaned out in the new year.