Juventus are reportedly planning a January swoop for midfield star Paul Pogba after starting talks with Manchester United during Cristiano Ronaldo negotiations.
According to Rudy Galetti, Juventus can make an attempt to re-sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United in the winter transfer window on a cut-price deal with the Frenchman yet to extend his contract at Old Trafford beyond next summer.
There is a lot of speculation surrounding Pogba’s future at Old Trafford ever since he entered the final 12 months of his Manchester United contract. The French international had previously refused to sign an extension, but things appear to have changed recently, and he’s enjoying his rediscovered red-hot form. Some reports stated that positive talks are being held in the background.
However, most recently, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reiterated that despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s best efforts, a deal to keep Pogba at Old Trafford has yet to be agreed. Pogba’s super-agent Mino Raiola has started linking his client to a Juventus return to spark even more speculation.
“Surely Turin has remained in his heart, and he cares a lot about these things, “There is the possibility that he returns to Juventus, but it also depends on Juve,” Raiola told Rai Sport recently, as quoted by talkSPORT.
Pogba has started the current campaign in fantastic form, with seven assists in seven games across all competitions so far. Manchester United, meanwhile, are in a complicated situation regarding the Frenchman’s future. If Pogba does not sign a new contract by January, he will be free to speak with an overseas club and can agree on a pre-contract arrangement to leave the club on a Bosman the following summer.
So, the Red Devils could be forced to sell Pogba in January itself to recoup some amount and avoid losing him for free next summer. They are even lining up moves for AC Milan’s Franck Kessie and Spurs’ Tanguy Ndombele as a potential emergency replacement.
Juventus are now emerging as contenders for Pogba’s signature, and a move back to Turin would be an appealing prospect for the player. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has a proven track record in Italy and scored 34 goals while assisting a further 40 times in 178 appearances in all competitions for the Bianconeri.
There are doubts about whether Juventus need Pogba as they already have a packed midfield unit on a massive wage bill. They have also added Manuel Locatelli to their midfield this summer. Moreover, can Juve afford Pogba’s monstrous wage demand amidst their critical financial situation? Time will tell whether Pogba ends up staying at United or secures a move elsewhere.
