Report: Manchester United lineup €80m bid for classy Paul Pogba replacement

Reports from Spain suggest Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has identified Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez as a prime target this summer.

According to AS, United would be willing to pay €80m for the 25-year-old Spanish international.

However, this offer would be just over half of the €150m release clause Niguez has in his contract and it seems unlikely that Atletico would let one of their key assets go for anything less.

Niguez is one of Diego Simeone’s key men and is very much the complete midfielder.

Many fans would have seen exactly what he is about when Atletico knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League earlier this month.

Niguez combines his tough tacking and intercepting ability with his ease and composure when in possession. He is tenacious off the ball and can dictate the tempo of the play with it.

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Niguez is the kind of elite midfield player United should be considering, especially given the uncertainty around Paul Pogba’s future at Old Trafford.

The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid to link up with Zinedine Zidane as well as a possible return to Juventus.

As reported by Manchester Evening News, Pogba still wants out and it would be foolish for United to stand in his way if the right offer comes in.

Unfortunately, regardless of whether Pogba leaves, we think a move for Saul Niguez would be extremely difficult to pull off. Niguez is currently in contract negotiations with Atletico and there has been no indication of a desire to move elsewhere.

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