Paul Pogba submits transfer request, but Juve reject United bid

The dawning of a new day has brought with it a series of important developments in Paul Pogba’s rumoured move to Manchester United. All of the major Italian sports dailies are leading with the story that the Frenchman has asked to leave Juventus, with a typical example evident in La Gazzetta dello Sport, whose headline reads: “POGBA HAS DECIDED DEAR JUVE LET ME GO”. We concur:

Yet in spite of Pogba’s request, the reigning Serie A champions have reportedly turned down United’s first formal bid for their star midfielder. According to Fabrizio Romano and Marcus Christenson in the Guardian, Ed Woodward met with Juventus chiefs before submitting a bid “worth a total of £100m with £13m of that in performance-related add-ons.” It would have been enough to make Pogba the most expensive player of all time, but even that wasn’t sufficient for the Turin club to sell.

But still, with United having reportedly agreed personal terms with Pogba and his agent Mino Raiola — according to the Guardian, a five-year deal worth £250,000 a week — it seems hard to believe the deal is now dead in the water. United will presumably be willing to up their offer a little more. Indeed, according to the same report, more talks are scheduled between the two clubs, though Pogba — in contrast to the reports on the front pages of Italian newspapers today — is apparently “happy to stay at his current club.”

So in sum, there’s nothing yet to be getting too excited about, but it seems clear that the wheels are in motion. This one still looks like a very real possibility indeed — especially now Real Madrid appear to have given up the chase and made a move for Valencia’s André Gomes instead. United have something of an open goal; let’s hope they don’t miss it.