Paul Pogba 'is offered to Barcelona on a free transfer'

Barcelona are the latest club to be offered Paul Pogba on a free transfer next summer.

And Manchester United already have a replacement on their radar in the form of Aurelien Tchouameni, should the World Cup winner depart.

Pogba has less than a year left on his United contract, and is free to speak to clubs about a move in January, with Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain already heavily linked.

The powers that be at Old Trafford are keen to secure the Frenchman to a new long-term deal, with a £400,000-a-week deal reportedly set to be put on the table.

His mood towards a potential stay with the Red Devils has brightened given the recent arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, rumours around his future continue.

And according to ESPN, his agent Mino Raiola is continuing to explore avenues of a potential departure this summer, with Barcelona the latest club he has spoken to.

Barcelona's financial difficulties have been well documented, though, and while there would be no transfer fee involved, the Catalans would have reservations as to whether they could afford not just the player's sizeable wages, but the large agent's fees Raiola would surely demand.

While United want to keep Pogba, they are still exploring alternative measures should they lose their talisman.

One name linked is Aurelien Tchouameni, the Monaco midfielder who partnered Pogba in the middle of the park during France's recent Nations League success.

According to ESPN, he is on the radar at United, with a bid of €50m to €60m (£42m-£50m) needed to bring the Ligue 1 side to the table.

Pogba spoke about Tchouameni in glowing terms following their recent triumph over Spain.

Asked about Tchouameni, Pogba told RTL as per the Metro: 'Very, very good. He’s not a boy, he’s a man.

‘It’s a pleasure to play next to him. He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, extraordinary technical and physical quality.

‘We wish him to play a lot more games and that I am always by his side.’