Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly initiated discussions with Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba over a move this summer.
According to a report by The Athletic, Paris Saint-Germain have taken the first step in their bid to sign Paul Pogba in the summer transfer window. The Manchester United midfielder is in talks with the Ligue 1 heavyweights over a potential move before the window slams shut, although a free transfer next year has not been ruled out.
Pogba’s tryst with Manchester United has been quite an intriguing story. The French midfielder first left the Red Devils in the summer of 2012 before returning from Juventus four years later. His second coming has now lasted half a decade and Pogba has proven to be frustratingly inconsistent at times.
However, the 28-year-old has also often shown that he is levels above the rest of the Manchester United midfielders when he is at his best. To date, the French international has featured 206 times for the Premier League heavyweights while chipping in with 38 goals and 42 assists.
However, in the summer transfer window so far, Manchester United have been in a precarious position over the future of the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner. With Pogba now in the final year of his contract, United have been attempting to tie him down to a bumper new deal. However, he is yet to commit his future to the Red Devils.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has put a positive spin to Pogba’s contract standoff with Manchester United, with the Norwegian tactician insisting that he has held positive talks with the Frenchman. However, his impasse has also paved the way for potential suitors to emerge in his pursuit, with Paris Saint-Germain keen on signing him.
The interest from PSG is intriguing, seeing as the arrival of Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool has bolstered their squad enough. In fact, the Ligue 1 giants now have as many seven recognised central midfielders in the first-team setup.
However, a closer look at Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will reveal that Idrissa Gueye is on the wrong side of 30 while the likes of Danilo Pereira, Leandro Paredes and former Manchester United star Ander Herrera have not always been convincing enough, with Herrera even linked with a summer departure from Parc des Princes.
To that end, Pogba is a viable target for the Ligue 1 heavyweights, who have now stepped up their efforts to snap him up by opening talks over a potential move. However, PSG could also put off the move for the Manchester United midfielder to next summer, when he will have become a free agent at the end of his deal.
Manchester United are yet to be approached by PSG as well and it is clear that Les Parisiens’ interest in Pogba is in its nascent stages at the moment. Having said that, it remains to be seen if the Ligue 1 giants make their move for the 28-year-old midfielder this summer or wait till he is a free agent next summer.
