Barcelona could step up their interest in Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba with his contract expiring this summer, Fichajes reports.
The France international has been a key player for the Red Devils over the past five-and-a-half years, but there is now uncertainty over his future.
No contract negotiations are planned despite his contract concluding in June. It has been reported that United are braced for his departure.
Amidst this, it appears Barcelona have added him to their transfer wishlist, and they could open talks with his agent Mino Raiola over a Bosman move.
The deal may not be straightforward due to their La Liga imposed wage cap. Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are also keeping tabs on Pogba’s situation.
Our view:
Pogba has been a key player for the Red Devils since his homecoming in 2016. He has bagged 39 goals and 50 assists from 222 appearances in all competitions.
Despite his efforts, there has always been a mixed reception from the fans. While he can be world-class on his day, there have been games where he has looked out of sorts.
A fine example is the Atletico Madrid game this month, where the £49.5 million-rated star (as per Transfermarkt) struggled to control proceedings before being replaced by Nemanja Matic.
United have not made any progress in extending his expiring deal. They may find it hard to make a breakthrough, particularly with their strained relationship with Raiola.
Raiola has publicly talked up Pogba’s potential exit from Old Trafford. The 28-year-old has continued to keep ties with the Italian, who seems to be pushing him elsewhere.
United’s director of football John Murtough has urged Pogba to delay his future decision until the summer, but it is looking more and more likely that he will leave on a free transfer.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com.
