Manchester United has confirmed it's on the hunt to beef up on the forward department by adding two prolific scorers in time the January transfer window. The English club, at the same time, has dismissed the media reports that Paul Pogba wants a pay raise of £600,000.
The figures will cover a week of basic pay for Pogba, who remains sidelined by an ankle injury. If rumors are to believed, the French midfielder is said to be demanding the wage hike, or he will see the exit door given an opportunity.
The Red Devils, however, dismissed the allegations, highlighted in a recent op-ed by West Ham executive Karren Brady. Brady suggested in her piece that United should consider selling Pogba if indeed he is asking for a big-money bump.
Reacting to the rumors, United said Pogba did not initiate talks on the question of salary. The club added Pogba's existing contract will see him for another two years at Old Trafford with an option for an extension, indicating that discussing the matter is premature at this time.
"He's fully focused on getting 100 percent fit again and helping the team. Anyone that says he's been asking for £600,000-a-week is wrong," Fox Sports reported United as saying in a statement.
Meanwhile, the manpower-challenged United has admitted that the club will want two forwards to be added on the roster. Team manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he is ready to shop for new strikers next year.
Included in the shopping list of Solskjaer, according to the Manchester Evening News, is Mario Mandzukic, who likely will be offered by Juventus to interested teams. It seemed that Solskjaer is willing to pick the Croatian striker, who last summer was tipped to play for United.
Another forward that interests Solskjaer is Erling Haaland, who the same report said has a high chance of playing for the Manchester club, partly because the United boss and the young forward have collaborated before at Molde.
More importantly, the Red Devils are clearly impressed with Haaland's showing in the current season. He has been seen in 11 games so far and was able to kick in 18 goals.
Possibly another target for Solskjaer is Martin Odegaard, who presently kicks for La Liga club Real Sociedad. The Dane has been loaned out to Sociedad by Real Madrid, which has a deal with Odegaard until 2022.
When asked recently on the likelihood of him ending up with the Manchester United, Odegaard said he is flattered by the talks but would prefer playing with Real Madrid. Odegaard said he would stick with his Madrid contract.
