Manchester United should not think twice about selling Paul Pogba and signing Jack Grealish this summer, according to Andy Gray.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, Pogba still wants to leave Old Trafford, despite the recent signs for optimism in the unbeaten run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United look a revitalised side with the addition of Bruno Fernandes in midfield, but it is uncertain whether we will ever get to see the Portugal star in the same team as Pogba.
Real Madrid and Juventus are seen as the most probable destinations for the Frenchman, who’s season has petered out into something of a non-event.
The World Cup winner has not played for the Reds since Boxing Day and has been nursing a serious ankle injury for most of the campaign.
And former Sky Sports pundit Gray has given a brutal assessment of the 27-year-old, calling his return to Manchester a failure.
While he acknowledges the uncertainty of the transfer market amid the COVID-19 crisis, Gray believes Solskjaer should replace Pogba with Grealish if given the option.
READ MORE: What Van Persie told Rooney before combining for one of Premier League’s greatest goals
“We don’t know how football is going to come through this crisis. We don’t know if football is going to be the same again and if it will affect players’ values,” Gray told the Daily Star.
“But, when the dust settles, if I could sell Pogba for £100million and bring in Grealish for £70m, I’d do it in a heartbeat. It’s a no-brainer.
“But he’s pretty much failed at United. Is it his own fault or just bad luck with injuries? I think it’s probably a combination of the two.
“Real Madrid seems the right fit for him – and his agent has been edging towards that.
“United still might be able to get their money back on Pogba. We know his value commercially and on social media with his millions of followers. That’s important to football clubs these days.”
Pogba remains a world class midfielder and is still the most talented player at Solskjaer’s disposal. But if he is insistent on leaving the club and is not committed to his manager’s long-term rebuild, then United should not stand in his way if the right offer comes in.
Solskjaer is focusing his rebuild around young English talent and Grealish is an attractive option for the Norwegian.
The 24-year-old has spearheaded Aston Villa’s survival bid this season, and was pushing for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championships.
Grealish combines his star quality in possession with a controlled aggression without, and his versatility could be welcomed in the squad.
But his actions off the pitch have often marred his ability on it, and Solskjaer will need reassurances there will be no repeat of his Range Rover crash which understandably received huge backlash this week.
Vote for Stretty News!
Stretty News is running in this year’s Football Content Awards at Tottenham’s stadium. Even though the event itself is in doubt after the coronavirus outbreak, you can still cast your vote for the Premier League’s Best Club Content Creator.
You can also vote via Instagram and Twitter — find out how here.
