Pogba has a dream
“Stunning” is how the Daily Express describes Paul Pogba’s latest admission.
The shock comments came when the midfielder was asked about a possible future move to Real Madrid now that fellow Frenchman Zinedine Zidane is back in the Bernabeu hot seat.
“Real Madrid is a dream for anyone,” Pogba told reporters. “It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. There is also Zidane as a coach and it’s a dream for anybody who likes football.”
Asked if that meant he was thinking of quitting Old Trafford, the Frenchman replied: “For now, I’m at Manchester. We don’t know what the future holds.”
Despite Pogba’s astonishing admission, the Express predicts that United are “extremely unlikely” to sell the 26-year-old this summer. But they will be conscious that his contract expires in 2021, which means they need to hammer out a new deal in the next 18 months or risk losing him on a free.
Sancho in the sights
Manchester United are bullish in their belief that they can convince Borussia Dortmund to sell Jadon Sancho this summer, according to the London Evening Standard, which claims that the 18-year-old is the Red Devils’ priority summer signing.
A source at Old Trafford told the newspaper that the United board “are doing everything they can to sign him” – but they’ll face stiff resistance from the German club.
Every player has his price
Although Dortmund are claiming that Sancho is not for sale at any price, it’s believed that “a bid in excess of £80m is expected to be enough to lure him to Old Trafford”.
French giants Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring him, but United are confident that the teenage sensation – part of the England squad that will face the Czech Republic on Friday night – will choose the Premier League above the quiet backwaters of Ligue 1.
The Standard adds that United know they could land Sancho because there is no clause in his contract that prevents him from moving to Old Trafford.
By contrast, when Brahim Diaz left for Real Madrid in January, a clause was reportedly inserted in his contract by Manchester City that ruled out a future move to rivals United.
Not so with Sancho, although Man City do have a buy-back option. However, City are “highly unlikely” to re-sign the teenager given that he left them two years ago, the newspaper concludes.
Alderweireld on his way?
Toby Alderweireld has fuelled speculation that he could be ready to move north to Old Trafford, reports The Sun.
The Belgian defender has long been linked with a move from Tottenham, and United has been mooted as his possible destination – although the newspaper says United have failed to get anywhere near Spurs’s £60m asking price.
Tottenham have triggered a 12-month option on Alderweireld’s contract to extend his stay in north London until 2020, which has simultaneously activated a £25m release clause at the end of the current campaign. Confused? United aren’t, but they are apparently “on red alert”.
The 30-year-old Alderweireld knows he can have one last big pay day, and the prospect of seeing out his career is a tempting one.
“I have a year contract left at Spurs, so I don’t look further than this season,” he told Sky Sports News. “Other things I don’t know. I am very happy at Spurs, so we will see what the future brings.”
Heading for the Old Trafford exit
Antonio Valencia has not been offered a new deal and is set to leave Man Utd this summer. The 33-year-old Ecuadorian is linked with Arsenal, West Ham United and Inter Milan.
The Daily Star reports that two other players could be set to join Valencia at the Old Trafford exit. The paper says that forward Alexis Sanchez and defender Marcos Rojo are also surplus to the requirements of United caretaker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
