Paul Pogba is now called a wantaway Manchester United player. If his decision to leave Old Trafford will not be reversed after the current term, Pogba is seen to wear a new shirt by summer next year. It could be Real Madrid or more likely, Juventus.
The Frenchman switching sides in 2021 is no longer a question, and this was the claim made by Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano. The chance of the attacking midfielder playing for a new club next season is 100%, Romano said.
Should that be the case, it would be unsurprising for Pogba's former club, Juventus, to start moving for the star's possible return to Italy. According to Sport Bible, the Italians have a ready offer for United to sign Pogba's release papers but the standing proposal will need to be upgraded.
The initial bid from the Serie A champions involved a player swap, in which United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can acquire Juve stars Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey for Pogba. But the Red Devils are not too excited about the exchange.
For a player who once won the World Cup and paid for £89 million by United, the talks will only move if the price is right. And it is understood that the Premier League giants will only agree to a deal if Juventus will pay in cash.
Marca said United's asking price is more affordable and an agreement could be closed if the Italians can pay £50 million upfront. It's unclear if the demand is suitable for Juventus but the club is said to be moving fast to complete the transaction.
It seemed that the Italians are wary of another unsuccessful negotiation on Pogba's return. In the past seasons, the midfielder attempted to rejoin his former side but nothing came out of the previous dealings.
In the ongoing negotiation, it is said that money is not the only concern for Juventus. The club will need to race against Real Madrid in winning Pogba's signature. While it is believed that Los Blancos have already moved on from the Frenchman after expressing interest in the last two summers, the club could reignite a bidding war.
The new motivation for Real is that Pogba is now readily available for a price. And the star is thought to be on the signing wish list of club boss Zinedine Zidane.
In any case, Juventus can still secure a deal on Pogba if the side is willing to give United's alternate demand. If cash is a problem for the Italians, Solskjaer's side can accept an offer that involves a top Juventus player, and preferably one that spells Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juventus might be tempted to consider sending Ronaldo back to England for Pogba but the deal will not make the Portuguese superstar happy. Express reported that the swap would mean that Ronaldo is now of lesser value than Pogba and it will not sit well with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
