Pranav Nair
Manchester United desperate to ensure Paul Pogba pens contract extension
According to The Mirror, Manchester United are worried that Paul Pogba will see out the final year of his contract at the club and leave on a free transfer next year.
With just 12 months left on his current deal, the Red Devils are involved in a race against time to keep hold of the French World Cup winner. As yet, negotiations have gotten nowhere, with the attempts to persuade Pogba and his agent reaching a deadlock.
Having signed him for a club-record £89million just five years ago, United now face the prospect of losing the player in his prime for nothing. While Pogba has flattered to deceive in a United jersey, his upturn in form since the turn of the year has shown just what he is capable of.
According to the report, the Red Devils are keen to sell Pogba this summer rather than lose him for free in a year’s time. United had earlier slapped a £150million valuation on the player in order to discourage interest from Real Madrid. They will now be lucky to get anything close to that today.
United are well aware of the hand they hold in negotiations. It was evident from how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handled the Frenchman last season. The Norwegian refused to involve himself in any exchange of views with the player’s agent, Mino Raiola.
To add fuel to the fire, Raiola has already met with Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi to discuss Pogba’s future. The French giants are emerging as frontrunners for the United ace’s signature. (h/t The Mirror)
Deja vu
There is a sense of deja vu given the predicament surrounding Pogba. The player came through the United academy before departing the club for Juventus in acrimonious circumstances in 2012. He eventually developed into a world-class player in Turin before returning in 2016.
While he has had his moments, the transfer cannot be termed an unqualified success. It will be seen in a much poorer light if we are to lose him for peanuts. To make things worse, a strong showing at the Euros will be a reminder of just what we will be forced to give up.
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Pogba has agreed to take part in an Amazon documentary about his life next season. It is fair to assume that the impending saga at Old Trafford could be one of its selling points.
