Jose Mourinho will spend big this summer – with Paul Pogba the bait in a £200 million transfer blitz on Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
The Old Trafford boss has lost patience with Pogba and even some Manchester United stars are disappointed that the £89million midfielder focuses more on his image than his football.
United still have a core of senior pros like Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones who all played under Sir Alex Ferguson.
And Pogba is believed to have been told to rein in his social media activity and concentrate on delivering the high-level performances they know he is capable of.
Mourinho is clear he has to win at least one major trophy next season – and he is targeting FOUR world stars to catapult United back among Europe’s elite – with Pogba as bait.
The top duo on his hit list are Bernabeu stars Raphael Varane and Toni Kroos as Mourinho looks to import quality into defence and midfield.
French centre-back Varane – rated at £70m by Madrid – has been on Mourinho’s radar since he left Real Madrid in 2013 after three seasons working with the elegant star.
German World Cup winner Kroos, 28, is also on Mourinho’s wish list with the United boss admiring his drive and intelligence on the pitch.
Now Pogba has come up short, Mourinho wants someone to run United’s midfield and Kroos fits the bill – despite Madrid slapping a near- £100m valuation on the German.
Mourinho’s back-up plan would be PSG pair Marquinhos and Marco Verratti, with £45m Juventus left-back Alex Sandro eyed as a solution to United’s problems with Luke Shaw.
Real boss Zinedine Zidane likes fellow-Frenchman Pogba but Madrid would prefer to take David De Gea from United.
Pogba and PSG would be a natural fit though – and Mourinho is banking on that prospect to encourage the French side to be open for a double deal for Verratti and Marquinhos.
Podaco
112
I am very happy to hear that because he is way overatted. just because he was traded to MU with huge sum, he thinks he is a super star?! MU plays much better without him. he is lazy, slow, no heart, and son of jealous. Go away!
Wesbmoprt
106
Pogba deserves Madrid his image deal and ability not to mention star status is the definition of Madrid he can play cm cdm or cam utd just dont know how to use him and expect him to do everything
Tikaeimotu
95
I remembered when mourinho was at chelsea in his last season, he kept crying and insisting on getting pogba, later used it as an excuse for not doing well in the league. Fast forward it , he can't use pogba well and trying to dispose him. if you can track players back, can't mark or defend or cause injury to your opponents.....then you are not a mourinho type of player. skilful players can't play under mourinho, dats y he wanted to sell hazard if he stayed further in Chelsea, foolishly sold debruyne, salah n co just for d same reason.... mourinho is d problem not pogba, his tactics isn't the best in modern football...
Sukie
83
Both Maurinho and Pogba need to work on their game. However, managers don't often change their strategies much to fit in a player's style of play but a player can adjust himself to level up with the standard and expectations that his team, his boss and himself want; i.e. Sanchez's case and Luke Shaw even more. I feel sad that Pogba could be leaving Old Trafford. I was looking forward to seeing a legend of him with a lot of trophies and personal achievements to his name. I wish him all the best
vedilpt
68
let this useless pogba go.He cannot be playing with his career because he wants his salary to be increased.United pls bring players who play football as passion for the team and fans happiness not for them selves like Pogba
Fokaclnps
18
mourinho keeps getting chased from every team. when will we all realise that he is the problem..not pogba, not hazard, not ozil and definitely not Ronaldo. mourinho has no player management skill no wonder Barcelona could never employ him..
royacmnsy
14
Paul Pogba will pick up, just give him some times[Cry]