Manchester United will reportedly entertain offers in the upwards of the £160 million mark for Paul Pogba, who wants to join Real Madrid in the summer.
As per a report from Daily Mail, Manchester United are set to demand transfer fees in excess of £160 million for star man Paul Pogba, who has emerged as a key transfer target for La Liga giants Real Madrid.
The 26-year-old Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016 after a successful spell with Juventus, but has struggled to live up to the expectations placed on his shoulders. The club record signing has shown fleeting glimpses of his immense ability, but hasn’t been able to do it consistently enough.
Pogba’s fraught relationship with Jose Mourinho was believed to be the reason behind him not playing at the level he is capable of, which seemed true, as the midfielder stepped it up in a big way after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment last December. However, it only proved to be a false dawn as Pogba has been in poor form for the past month or so.
In the same period, speculations linking Pogba with a summer switch to Real Madrid have intensified heavily. The 26-year-old has claimed he dreams of playing for Los Blancos, while their manager Zinedine Zidane is also keen on working with his compatriot, which has added more fuel to the fire.
Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, has already held talks with representatives from Real Madrid according to the report, while the player himself has told teammates and friends he will be on the move in the summer. And the fact that Manchester United will not be playing in the Champions League next season should only serve to further his resolve of sealing a move to Madrid.
However, Manchester United have no intention of losing their prized asset in the summer. The Red Devils’ chief executive Ed Woodward sees the £89 million midfielder as someone with huge commercial value for the club and is not interested in entertaining any offers from Real Madrid.
Moreover, the fact that Pogba has still two years left on his £290,000-a-week contract, with the club having the option of extending it by a further twelve months puts them in a strong position. However, should push come to shove, Manchester United will listen to offers provided that they are in the upwards of the £160 million mark, as per the report.
That figure is almost the double of what Manchester United paid Juventus to sign Pogba back in 2016. But, it remains to be seen if Real Madrid are willing to match that valuation, with recent reports claiming that they are eyeing Ajax’s €60 million-rated Donny van de Beek as a possible alternative.
