Jose Mourinho wants Paul Pogba’s world record fee to be beaten to take the heat off the Manchester United star

JOSE MOURINHO is desperate for Paul Pogba’s world record transfer fee to be beaten this summer – to take the heat of his under fire star.

Pogba has struggled to cope with the weight of pressure after making his £89million move back to Old Trafford from Juventus last summer.

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Manchester United boss Mourinho has defended the form of the 24-year-old and insisted he has been one of the Premier League’s outstanding players this season.

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But he still wants someone else to break the record over the close season so Pogba can be allowed to get on with playing without so much scrutiny.

Mourinho told Omnisport: “I think the problem is the tag, the price tag on his back.

“I hope next summer he’s not anymore the highest transfer fee and then the pressure goes to somebody else.

“If his transfer fee was half of it, everybody would say ‘what a buy,’ ‘he’s playing more than good’.

“But everybody expects performances according to that huge transfer fee and that brings pressure and that brings sometimes unfair analysis.”

For Mourinho to get his wish, it would mean one of the world’s biggest stars will have to make a move during the close season.

United themselves could come close if they are to persuade Atletico Madrid to sell them Antoine Griezmann after a year-long chase for the French international.

Monaco have set a £110m asking price for teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe, with Real Madrid and Manchester City both making it clear they are interested in the striker.

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And the other player who could go for more than Pogba’s fee is Eden Hazard, with Real Madrid trying to figure out a way to persuade Chelsea to do business for the brilliant attacker.

Mourinho remains convinced Pogba has done the business for him this season, despite criticism that he has failed to live up to his price tag.

The United boss added: “He had very good matches, he had very good performances. He always sacrifices for the team.

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“If I go for example to Rostov, the way he played in Rostov was amazing.

“He had little matches where the performance was not so good but normally the performance is related to the team.

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"So when the team was very good, he was very good. When the team didn't perform so well, he didn't perform so well.

"So I think it's a bit unfair. I hope next season some club beats the record with another player and then the pressure goes somewhere else."