Manchester United extend Paul Pogba contract

Paul Pogba has had his contract at Manchester United unilaterally extended by a year, the club has confirmed.

Pogba had a year left on his current deal remaining, but the club had inserted a clause into his contract that allowed them to extend the terms for an extra year if they desired.

Had they not exercised that option then Pogba would have been able to sign a pre-contract arrangement with a foreign club from January and would have been permitted to leave the club for nothing in the summer.

Now, at least, United will preserve some resale value for the 27-year-old French midfielder, assuming another club wants him.

Pogba - like much of the United squad - has been relatively dreadful for the best part of four years, and while he has repeatedly been linked and linked himself with a move to Real Madrid, the club are reportedly looking to sign actually good players instead.

The logical next move for the World Cup winner would be a return to Juventus, especially if they are still managed by former Juve teammate Andrea Pirlo. The Italian side have had their budget hit by the coronavirus so any team may wish to wait until or if Pogba’s contract expires at Old Trafford.

Speaking ahead of United’s Saturday evening game with Newcastle, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the extension, saying: “Paul is our player, he is gonna be here for another two years.

“Paul is focused on doing his best for us. In the next couple of years I’m sure we’ll get the best out of him.”

United’s midfield trio is yet to be settled with the club yet to successfully accommodate Bruno Fernandes, Donny Van der Beek and Pogba in the same line up, and Nemanja Matic, Fred and Scott McTominay are all more defensive options.