Depending on your information service, Paul Pogba is either agitating for a move to Real Madrid, or agitating to have his salary doubled at Manchester United. Either way, he is a problem that needs sorting.
And, without doubt, he has looked better under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Better, yes — but twice as good as the player Manchester United thought they had captured when he signed?
Hardly. It could be argued we haven't actually seen that player because Pogba was considered the type of midfield powerhouse who could propel United to the title under Jose Mourinho.
As it stands, even with the Solskjaer-inspired resurgence, United are still in a fight to make it into the Champions League next season. And while it would be wrong to lay the blame solely at Pogba's feet, equally, it does not sound like the level of return that merits an escalation to £460,000 a week.
That is the figure being mentioned to secure Pogba's next contract, which probably means it is the figure he has been told he could earn with Real Madrid. Maybe he could get even more, if he publicly flirts with the idea of signing for longer at Old Trafford. He wouldn't be the first.
Yet is he worth it? Does anything we have seen from Pogba so far suggest he should be rewarded in this way? He is having a good second half of the season.
Yet any Footballer of the Year shortlist would have to burn through a page or more of names before alighting on his. And for close to £2m each month isn't that what Manchester United should be getting? The best. More influential than Virgil van Dijk, improving faster than Raheem Sterling, more valuable to his team than Eden Hazard. A player at the pinnacle of his game. Is that Pogba? Not yet, it isn't.
It's not Alexis Sanchez either, yet it is his salary that has set the benchmark for wages at Old Trafford, his arrival that sent the rest of the squad scuttling to their agents for renegotiations.
Yet Sanchez hasn't proved worth his wage, so why should United feel compelled to make the same mistake twice? They cannot continue to be the club that is panicked into costly manoeuvres. Maybe it is time Ed Woodward tried calling a few bluffs
If Real Madrid want Pogba, and Pogba's people think he is a £460,000 player, then ask for a fee apposite to his status. Because Pogba isn't Cristiano Ronaldo. When United lost Ronaldo they must have feared coming up against him in the Champions League again.
And those fears proved correct. Ronaldo has won the Champions League four times since he left, Manchester United zero. Nor have they defeated Real Madrid in their three meetings since Ronaldo changed sides.
And in the two games he started, he scored. Is that what we could expect from Pogba in opposition? Would he change the dynamic at his new club? Would he leave United among Europe's also-rans?
He would have to be a different player to the one we have seen; one capable of the odd moment of devastation such as the killer passes against Tottenham and West Ham, but also periods of anonymity.
Pogba was excellent as Manchester United went on a record-breaking run that got Solskjaer his permanent gig, but he also played every minute as United lost four games in five against Arsenal, Barcelona and Wolves, twice.
His prolific scoring run also came to an end until Saturday's penalties. He last scored from open play on February 18, against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
And he's an excellent player. Nothing here denies that. What must be judged is whether he is a player worth £460,000 a week to Manchester United, when there can be no guarantee he will not become detached or inconsistent, as certainly seemed to happen when Mourinho was in charge.
Since the talk of Madrid began — which Pogba has done little to discourage — it could even be argued his form has already suffered.
It's the biggest call of the summer: to keep Pogba happy or let him become Real Madrid's latest expensive problem.
Leicester are seventh, but Palace have beaten them home and away this season. They have beaten Wolves away, too. If Palace lose Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer, Roy Hodgson's caution may be justifiable.
This season, however, has been a waste.
Going into Monday night's fixture, the league table stated that Tottenham are as far off the top two as Leicester are away from the top six: 16 points.
Whatever mitigations for two transfer windows passing without investment, it cannot be said to have worked.
Vabdlpt
56
Paul pogba a midfielder have manchester u in many occasions first 3_2 win over man City last season man u 2_ westham 1 on saturday let's talk about country duties he scored in his first and last game of the world cup let's go to Epl goal scorer who is d first midfielder u see there in conclusion p.pogba is a world class player
yozdiklsuy
49
Without Paul Pogba Manchester United will still perform good.
Hotabnpstz
47
It’s really funny right who whoever write this story it’s easy for him/her bcos Paul isn’t an english player that alone kill the English people,Maxie and the reporter bcos English doesn’t have anyone close Paul quality so they can say and write shit about him what happen to Jesse Lingard they both graduate from academic together yet all eye could see they’re not in thesame class United should let him go to Real so that average player like Lingard can show what they’re made up of and buy Rice,Sancho and wan bassak England future players it’s just a matter of time we shall all see it that this english players are all average and english people raising their hope and believe they ll be the ones that ll make United better it’s also a matter of time.. United doesn’t have good quality player that match Paul quality even Messi and Ronaldo have quality player around them in the club wc.help their game but both struggles each time they play for their National team and Paul doesn’t struggle rather he always enjoy his game better bcos of the quality around him... My suggestion is United should let him go and start the rebuilding with england players who are more better than him and we shall all see the different in just one season ... “if you’re good you’re good you don’t buy it in the market “ they’re all jealous of Paul let see when next would England national team ll win major championship at least Paul Won World Cup..,
AnwarJemil
38
pogba is better than ronaldo if he find good coach and he have future than ronaldo cos he is yang but ronaldo he will play 2 years after this time so who need treat pogba or ronaldo the answer is clear
nazckn
22
As much as I'm Man United till the end, I really don't appreciate some of these comments on Paul P. Yes I understand that no player is bigger than the club, but at the same time the club cannot operate without the players. Manchester United board put themselves in the situation they're in and I'm not sorry for them. What did they saw in Sanchez to agree to a deal of that statue. That is what causing the problem at the club because the players that have been winning the games for us are not stupid and I knew from the get go that this is gonna cause problems with the players that have been winning the games...