Manchester United could pull of contract negotiations with Paul Pogba after his horror-show against Liverpool last weekend, reckons Frank McAvennie.
Speaking to Football Insider, former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie has claimed that he does not see Manchester United shelling out big wages to tie midfielder Paul Pogba to a new contract.
The Frenchman has entered the final year of his deal at Old Trafford and is yet to show any indication that he wants to pen an extension with the Red Devils. Speculations over his future have been doing the rounds for quite some time now. Teams like Real Madrid, PSG are interested in securing his signing on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, recently claimed that there had been no new development with regard to the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner’s contract.
Former West Ham striker McAvennie has lashed out at the 28-year-old, insisting that he is a problem figure at Manchester United. The ex-Premier League forward pointed at his performance in the game against Liverpool last weekend as an example to cite the issues that Pogba brings after the midfielder was sent off for a rash challenge on Naby Keita.
McAvennie further added that Manchester United could now decide to halt contract talks with the former Juventus star as a result. “I think Pogba’s the problem. He thinks he’s the centre of the universe. That red card was absolutely shocking. You don’t go into a challenge like that, I don’t care who you are,” he said.
“I’m happy to give him the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think he was trying to hurt Keita. But at a point that becomes irrelevant, it was absolutely shocking. That gave his side an even harder task against probably the best team in England right now.
“So often he goes missing or doesn’t turn up. Aren’t Man Utd meant to be paying him some huge new contract? I can’t see that happening. From what I can see the fans are raging.”
Pogba missed Manchester United’s game against Tottenham due to the suspension resulting from his red card against Liverpool. While the midfielder has the most assists for the Red Devils this term, the team showed that they can perform well without him, beating Spurs 3-0. It will be interesting to see whether the 20-time English champions offer him a new deal or lose him for free again.