If Paul Pogba is to stay at Manchester United, it seems the France star is determined to make the best of a bad situation.
With two years remaining on his current contract, Pogba apparently wants £500,000 a week to commit to another one. That’s the claim of The Sun, at least.
The Alexis Sanchez deal is looking worse by the day. Giving the Chilean flop huge money last January has put Ed Woodward in a tricky negotiating position with the rest of the squad who, understandably, all fancy money for nothing too.
Woodward is understood to have recognised his error but it may be too late. And if United won’t pay the big money, other clubs will.
The Independent says PSG are quite happy to give David De Gea the £350,000 a week he wants on a new contract, wherever that may take him. The United goalkeeper can certainly offer a more convincing case than Pogba in terms of form and contribution on the pitch.
If instead Pogba gets his Real Madrid move, which may be best for all concerned, then he may be taking Eric Bailly with him.
The Sun says Bailly’s name has ‘been put forward to Zinedine Zidane’ and a deal with £35million could be on the cards. A swap deal involving Raphael Varane is also mentioned, which United absolutely should pursue.
Elsewhere, The Times reinforces the belief that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to buy young and English, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Declan Rice and Callum Hudson-Odoi all targets.