United have three transfer windows to try and get a fee for Pogba, who reportedly still wants to leave
Paul Pogba is reportedly giving consideration to remaining at Manchester United for the remainder of his contract before leaving the club on a free.
The midfielder rejoined United from Juventus four years ago but has regularly been linked with moves away after struggling to put together a consistent run of good form at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old’s recent comments while on international duty with France have sparked fresh transfer speculation, with talk of moves to Real Madrid and a second spell at Juventus returning.
While Pogba briefly considered extending his stay at United during the club’s Bruno Fernandes-inspired upturn in form towards the end of last season, talk of a new deal has dissipated, with a report from The Athletic now claiming sources have said the player ultimately still wants to leave the club.
Clearly, having already lost Pogba on a free once before, United would prefer to receive a fee for the World Cup-winner over him leaving for nothing for a second time. The situation, however, is far from straightforward. The financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have been felt across the football world, with even Europe’s elite clubs having to scale back their transfer budgets.
This, and the fact Pogba has just 18 months to run on his current deal, means it is highly unlikely United will receive a fee higher than the then-world record £89m they paid Juventus for him in 2016.
As the same report points out, United have three transfer windows to move Pogba on before the expiration of his contract, but if a suitable offer doesn’t arrive in that time, leaving as a free agent is viewed as ‘a plausible route’ out of the club by the player.
