Paul Pogba’s future plays a huge role in the direction Manchester United take under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the upcoming transfer window.
The Frenchman had largely been expected to leave Old Trafford this summer, with disruptive agent Mino Raiola hinting at an impending exit.
But there have also been murmurings of a new contract for the midfielder and he was set to return to first-team training shortly after football was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Pogba may see the potential in what Solskjaer is building at the club, with the Reds unbeaten in 11 and looking a different proposition entirely with the addition of Bruno Fernandes.
It is possible the World Cup winner could strike a brilliant partnership with Fernandes which would only add to United’s creative options.
However, former Liverpool midfielder John Barnes believes an unhappy Pogba can undermine United and his sale would remove the toxicity within the club.
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“You simply cannot have an unhappy player at a football club, you can’t make them feel more important than the club and fans,” Barnes told BonusCodeBets.co.uk, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.
“Equally, it can undermine the club by being disrespectful because they’re not keeping the player happy. It is a ridiculous concept that you need to keep players happy.
“The players should have to keep the manager and the fans happy, and if you don’t, then [Pogba] has to go. This whole situation at United, from the outside, it seems like he has so much power at the club which makes everyone talk about him, the situation is so toxic within the club. He should leave.”
If Pogba was to be sold this summer, we do not feel he would be allowed to leave for anything less than the £89m they paid for him in 2016.
This could benefit Solskjaer in affording the United boss a much more powerful transfer budget to pursue his key targets.
The Norwegian has admitted the Reds are looking to strengthen in attacking areas and the sale of Paul Pogba could facilitate a he transfer for Borussia Dortmund starlet Jadon Sancho.
Sancho has lit up the Bundesliga this season, scoring 14 goals and contributing 15 assists. But he is widely expected to leave Germany to seek his next challenge. And according to Mark Ogden of ESPN, he is a leading target at Old Trafford. The signing of Sancho would break the club’s transfer record, but they would have a player of outstanding quality and potential that would fill he void on the right-flank.
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By selling Pogba, United would also have room in the transfer budget to sign a premium striker. A prolific goalscorer has been required ever since Romelu Lukaku left for Inter Milan. While Odion Ighalo’s loan spell has been fruitful, his performances have only demonstrated the impact an elite forward could have in the long-term.
As reported by the Evening Standard, Solskjaer is monitoring Premier League stars Raul Jimenez, as well as Moussa Dembele and Timo Werner.
And Lyon hitman Dembele could be the perfect player to complement the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford up front
According to the Sun, United are preparing a £60m offer for the 23-year-old this summer. Dembele is the natural goalscorer United have been crying out for and has netted 16 times in Ligue 1 this season. His prolificness in the air would also add a different dimension in attack.
Pogba’s sale would allow the Reds to fund signings of some elite players this summer that could take the club to the next level.
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