MANCHESTER UNITED would demand £140million if they decide to sell Paul Pogba this summer, according to reports.
Pogba’s future at Old Trafford is suddenly in doubt after a disappointing season which has seen his influence on the side begin to fade.
The French midfielder’s relationship with manager Jose Mourinho has hit the rocks amid concerns over his attitude on and off the pitch.
And the claim by Pep Guardiola that he was offered the chance to sign Pogba by his agent Mino Raiola in January only increased the fractured relationship between player and boss.
As a club, United insist they do not want to sell the record signing just two years after they beat Real Madrid to seal a then world record £89m transfer from Juventus.
And the 25-year-old has made it clear to friends that he is not pushing for a move away from Old Trafford for the second time in his career.
But the Mail claim if problems continue to worsen over the coming months, they have set a huge price on his head if Mourinho decides he wants to sell him.
That would mean clubs would have to find £140m to tempt United into selling, greatly reducing the number of other sides who would be able to finance a deal.
ON THE PAUL PSG ‘contact Mino Raiola’ to discuss potentialPaul Pogba exit from Man Utd
Realistically, the only clubs capable of coming up with the kind of money plus putting together a wage package to satisfy Pogba, would be Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Agent Raiola is understood to have contacted many of those, sounding their interest out in case the midfielder’s relationship with his manager gets to the point of breaking down completely.
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Ultimately, though United’s board would prefer not to sanction any deal, the final decision rests with Mourinhjo.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has given Mourinho total control with footballing decisions regarding the squad, and he would be backed by the board if he chooses to move the player on.
But commercially the club would want to see a substantial return on the investment they made when they signed Pogba in 2016.
Pogba remains in Mourinho’s thoughts for the time being, but the fact he has been on the bench or substituted in nine of the last 14 matches is an indication of the concerns the manager has about his star player.
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