Former Premier League star suggests Pogba held talks with Liverpool

Paul Pogba’s six years at Manchester United have largely been miserable and it has now been confirmed that the 29-year-old will be leaving the club this summer upon the expiry of his contract.

Pogba is one of six players to be let go by United this summer, with Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, Lee Grant and Nemanja Matic suffering the same fate.

Pogba played his last game for United in April’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool and since then, rumours over his exit ramped up and there were suggestions that he had been in talks to sign for Manchester City.

Former Premier League star Darren Bent has now fueled those rumours, insisting that he would’ve held talks with both Liverpool and Manchester City over joining United’s rivals as a free agent.

“You say Klopp and Pep wouldn’t touch him, I bet they’ve probably looked at the scenario and I bet they’ve had a conversation with him,” Bent told TalkSPORT, via the Liverpool Echo.

“You know what all great managers are like, they always think that even though that player has been a problem elsewhere, I can get the best out of him. I can guarantee you that Pep and Klopp think they can get the best out of any player on the planet.

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“I know he hasn’t been good enough [for United] but he is a good player. He hasn’t been a success but he has won two trophies there. It hasn’t worked and they’ve paid a lot of money for a footballer who’s now leaving for nothing.

“I don’t know if Chelsea fans will want him to join, but I wonder if some of the players would. Footballers will think differently to fans.

“I think other players, players in the Chelsea squad, will think ‘I would love a player like that to come here’. Players think differently. It will be the same with Liverpool.”

SN’s verdict…
Pogba’s departure has been widely covered and fittingly, there is little clarity on where he will be making his move but Juventus are favourites to land the France international. A move to either Liverpool or Manchester City would have been disastrous for United.

Although there are question marks over Pogba’s ability as a footballer and whether he would even be good enough to play for those sides, losing your most expensive player to a fierce rival would be embarrassing for the club.

There is, however, a long way to go before the transfer window closes and a u-turn wouldn’t be out of character for Pogba, who could still announce that he’s staying in the Premier League with a different club.

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