London - Manchester United expect to have a clear run at trying to land Paul Pogba from Juventus this week.
The France midfielder, who played in last night’s European Championship final, will now sit down with agent Mino Raiola to discuss his future.
Pogba has always preferred a move to Real Madrid but president at the Bernabeu, Florentino Perez, holds serious reservations about the astronomical figures involved. United would need to pay Juventus an initial fee of around £80million with add-ons - including increments on individuals honours - which would see the transfer eclipse £100m. It is thought Pogba’s wages would be in excess of £250 000 a week, but that will not be one of the issues when he sits down with Raiola in Paris.
Rather, Pogba will ask whether his agent believes a switch back to United - a club his relationship broke down with as a teenager - presents a progressive step. Jose Mourinho, who was at Wimbledon to watch Andy Murray win on Sunday, cannot offer Champions League football this season. But the former Chelsea manager has confidently been telling friends for weeks to expect a mega-money signing to arrive shortly after he took over.
United officials also claimed privately over the weekend that they believe a deal can be reached. But they do remain wary of Raiola’s meeting with Pogba, with the prospect of the 23-year-old linking up again with his old employers at Carrington hinging on whether Raiola can guarantee leaving Turin is in his best interests.
Pogba’s mother also needs to be convinced that her son uprooting to the North West is advisable. One card Raiola does hold is United seemingly standing as the only party willing to match the demands of Juventus.
Raiola has enjoyed a close relationship with United over the last two months, facilitating the free transfer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a £26m move for Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan. In contrast, Perez does not have much time for Raiola or the huge commission he is likely to earn from the deal. And the Real chief has never targeted Pogba in the way he has previously pursued personal favourites such as Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
Pogba told Raiola to get him a move to La Liga last season but with Barcelona’s budget consumed by thrashing out pay rises for Neymar and Lionel Messi, entering the race was beyond them.
Real Madrid’s interest has failed to spark during Euro 2016. Perez, ever the populist, was prepared to reluctantly throw Real’s hat into the ring should supporters insist on it, but ahead of last night’s final all eyes had been on their city’s own players. Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have caught the eye for Wales and Portugal, while Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann has been imperious for France.
Real have a smaller transfer budget than United this summer. They hope to increase funds by selling James Rodriguez - linked with PSG - and would not rule out allowing Isco, Raphael Varane or even Toni Kroos to leave.
Meanwhile, Southampton are set to sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Bayern Munich for £12.8m. The 20-year-old Denmark midfielder would be their first signing under Claude Puel.
Daily Mail