Manchester United are ready to begin talks over a new deal with Paul Pogba, but the star midfielder is demanding an astronomical £500,000-per-week.
With Real Madrid circling for the World Cup winner, United are desperate to lock down the Frenchman with a new long term contract.
And he wants to become the club's highest paid player, matching Alexis Sanchez on half a million every week, according to the Sun.
Compatriot Zinedine Zidane has publicly spoken of his admiration for Pogba, fanning the flames of recent speculation over a move to the Bernabeu.
The 26-year-old has looked a player transformed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and United are desperate to keep him.
There are two years left on Pogba's contract, but the club can extend that deal by an additional season.
It is understood that United are willing to offer a three-year extension with improved terms that would keep him at Old Trafford until 2024.
With super agent Mino Raiola holding forth in negotiations, there is no doubt United will be driven to a hard bargain.
Pogba earns £300,000-per-week on his existing terms and the importance of keeping their leader is of increased significance given the expected exits this summer.
Solskjaer will clear out a number of players on the fringes of his first team with Sanchez, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata thought to be heading for the door.
So Pogba appears to hold the aces when talks begin and United will know that losing the powerful midfielder to Real would send entirely the wrong message.
ENZOROMARIO77
294
United is a principled club and can't offer Pogba such a ridiculous amount. Even Rooney with all his goals and record breaks in United and England hasn't gotten such inflated wage demand. Pogba can go to Madrid than to pay him half a million pounds for doing nothing.
Phils-Moses
241
WTF..... better give that money to David De Gea, and let pogba go because he doesn't united Heart ♥.....I think Mou was right to say pogba is virus..... sometimes it's God's plan the game against psg it was a blessing for pogba to get red card so as United to go through, if pogba played second leg, we would be out by now...... so that £500,000 better give De gea to stay
wotimortz
198
i believe this news is fake bcos he don't even deserve to each 200k a week meanwhile if any interested buyer come around pls let him go bcos he dont play with his heart anymore n Man U is bigger then any player
DaMhztourage
186
Players knows which how and which button to press to hit jackpot and that's what Pogba has just done , incessant rumours of his purported want out has finally put Utd into panic increment of his weekly pay to either match or surpass that of Sanchez at £500,000, what then shall we say , expected has happened, right ? My next concern is the weight of this pay package influence on his performance, we are still reminiscent of his form immediately he was signed £89m , hope he will still perform at his optimum level to justify his wage .
noedekmnpr
181
please let pogba go, he's been the reason the rest of the players are underperforming.No one is bigger than Manchester United. you can't just come and start making unnecessary demands. Same with degea,they can leave so we can sign players that can win us trophies.
ABenC
128
Pogba did it on purpose, he wanted to go to Real Madrid and unless United can get rid of Sanchez, who was a flop signing at Old Trafford, United can afford to pay the wages Pogba ask for.
Longlife2000
119
Sanchez is the problem all this because it's was wrong for United to pay a player who is almost 30 years 500k a week and at the same time he is not among the top 10 best player in the world so if United pay Sanchez 500k a week then Pogba who is amongst the top midfielder is the world and at the same time a world cup winner he deserves also 500k because he is the best player in the United team and De Gea is also looking for 350k a week because he know that he deserves it and it's true because if not him like I think United will be fighting for relegation zone because he is their best player this season so United made a very big mistake to give Sanchez 500k a week now every United player who want to sign a new contract will demand more be of Sanchez 500k so United should just give Pogba and De Gea what they want for them to stay because they are the only 2 players in the squad with a superstar status
PG3355
106
Pogba is turning into a gold digger. Instead of paying him such amount, better bring three strong midfielders at 150k. let him leave if he wishes.
sicacest
105
Nosense he should leave please. I knew something about improved deal was on play immediately d rumours of him leaving for Madrid surface this time. 500,000 my ass please get out.........
Oldladies007
77
what!!! United are overpaying their players... Players, that are under performing. Even De Gea ain't worth 350k... (Oblak, Ster gan, Courtios, Neuer etc don't earn such.. let not even go to Sanchez....
Wimbpty
65
That too much for a flop player like him. Please try to raise Mc Tominay salary and let go Pogba. Use that money to sign another middle field. We will regret if we give him that much money.
SINGAM23
60
With £500,000, Pogba can add another Rolls Royce collection
A_K931
57
we need players that have MU genes in their blood....
Reddevilsalways
39
I want Erikson or Ruben Neves to replace pogba..Both these players are doing well in premier league..Erikson has only one yr left in his contract,so he will be a good choice
lukzlat910
37
Majority of United supporters want Pogba out, these are the same supporters that were Pogba when he was living to his 89 million pound price tag but now they've turned against him I think he should stay because he looks happy here and also because he's a key player for United in many aspects, once we get a new centre-back and a good one, Pogba can be relieved of his defensive duties and be pushed to a more attacking and creative position But if it really is his dream to go and play with Zidane and one of the best clubs in the world, then who are we to stop him?
luweimprt
30
It serves them right. The management of Man U brought problem upon the club since the first day they signed Sanchez from Arsenal. They enticed him with bumper pay without thinking of the negative effects it's going to have in the locker room. Manchester United as a club to my opinion as set a bad precedent to premiership. Ask me why? As soon as Sanchez succeeded getting the unreasonable amount, Ozil requested for his own pay rise with a new deal. You can now see the reason why most of the Man U players were all requesting for a pay rise with a new deal. I strongly believe that this is still going to be extended to every other clubs in the premiership and clubs in overseas.