Manchester United are confident Paul Pogba will still be their player next season, despite the midfielder admitting for the first time that he is seeking a “new challenge”.
At a promotional event in Tokyo on Sunday, Pogba went on-the-record regarding his desire to leave Old Trafford, amid intense speculation and interest from Real Madrid.
“I am thinking of this: to have a new challenge somewhere else,” he said.
“For me, I have been for three years in Manchester and have been doing great; some good moments and some bad moments, like everybody. Like everywhere else.
“After this season and everything that happened this season, with my season being my best season as well, I think for me it could be a good time to have a new challenge.”
1/50 Manchester United ‘transfer targets’: ranked and rated
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning a summer overhaul, but who is most likely to end up at Old Trafford?
PA
2/50 Mohamed Salah
A few spurious reports in Spain claim United are lining up a monster offer of around £180m, which makes no sense on any level. 0%.
Getty
3/50 Pedro
Can we take a moment to appreciate the defending in this photo… Anyway, the Fluminense striker has reportedly agreed to join Watford so it seems like this boat has sailed. 1%.
AFP/Getty Images
4/50 Reece James
The Chelsea defender has had an outstanding season on loan at Wigan and with a potential transfer embargo looming, it seems unlikely the club would sell him – let alone to a big-six rival. New contract imminent. 1%.
Getty
5/50 Sergio Ramos
The Real Madrid captain has fallen out with the club’s hierarchy, but has since said he wants to stay and see out his career at the Bernabeu. 1%.
Reuters
6/50 Niklas Sule
A giant of a man who would improve United’s defence, but it is unclear why he would leave Bayern or why Bayern would let him go. 1%.
Getty
7/50 Robert Lewandowski
Can’t imagine it. That’s all this is based on. 2%.
EPA
8/50 Hirving Lozano
The PSV forward said he wanted to play for United a couple of months ago, but has since said he wants to play in the Champions League next season. 2%.
EPA
9/50 Thomas Meunier
Key facts: slated United’s comeback win in Paris recently, heavily linked with Arsenal; scored that lovely goal at the World Cup. 3%.
PA
10/50 Jan Oblak
The kind of quality that United would be looking for, should David de Gea leave, though it would take a huge sum to prise him from Atletico and he signed a new contract in April. 3%.
AFP/Getty Images
11/50 Joao Cancelo
Seems settled in Turin, with Manchester City reported as more likely a destination than United should he leave this summer. 3%.
REUTERS
12/50 Wilfred Ndidi
A few reports say Manchester United fans want him, but little concrete linking the club to a bid, and Leicester are keen to hold on to the midfielder. 3%.
Getty
13/50 Patrick van Aanholt
Possibly just included in the more concrete Aaron Wan-Bissaka rumours by way of neat symmetry. 4%
Getty Images
14/50 Ivan Rakitic
Didn’t play well at Anfield in the Champions League and could be usurped in midfield by Frenkie de Jong next season, but it still feels a long shot that he ends up at Old Trafford. 4%.
EPA
15/50 Philippe Coutinho
Not having a great time at the Nou Camp but was promised another season by the club president in a recent interview. Would be extremely expensive if he became available. 4%.
EPA
16/50 Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho was wanted by United this summer, but a deal looks very unlikely with huge competition and his settled place at Dortmund. 4%.
EPA
17/50 Thomas Partey
His dad seems to want him move to the Premier League, judging by his quotes in the media, but it is unclear just how serious United or any other top club are about signing the Atletico Madrid midfielder. 4%.
Getty
18/50 Declan Rice
The West Ham and England midfielder could be set for a career at the top of the game, but reports linking him to United are light on detail, and more recently Solskjaer has ‘accepted Rice is out his reach’. 4%.
Action Images via Reuters
19/50 Edinson Cavani
Perpetually linked with a PSG exit, but never actually leaves. Supposedly United and Chelsea both want him, but those rumours haven’t resurfaced for a couple of months. 5%.
AFP/Getty Images
20/50 Joao felix
The forward is one of the best young players on the planet. Manchester City are believed to lead the race for his signature, and he is an admirer of Pep Guardiola, although he just looks like he’s made for a clasico one day. 5%.
AFP/Getty Images
21/50 Tanguy Ndombele
Lyon midfielder heavily linked with Tottenham, and loosely linked with United. 5%.
REUTERS
22/50 James Rodriguez
Loan at Bayern has not been made permanent so he’s back at Real Madrid, looking for a new club. United are one of the few who could pay his wages but the links have been tenuous at best. 6%.
AFP/Getty Images
23/50 Wilfried Zaha
His last stay at Manchester United was not particularly productive and north London seems a more likely destination for the Palace forward, judging by the latest reports. 6%.
Getty
24/50 Mauro Icardi
Lost the Inter captaincy after his wife/agent fell out with the board. Could form part of a swap deal with Romelu Lukaku, but these high-profile swaps almost never happen. 6%.
Reuters
25/50 Idrissa Gueye
He wants out and PSG are reportedly eyeing the midfielder, who Everton value at more than £40m. 7%
REUTERS
26/50 Andre Onana
The impressive Ajax goalkeeper has been linked with Barcelona and Arsenal too, but is another option if De Gea departs. 7%.
REUTERS
27/50 Richarlison
Having scored this goal (pictured) against United in one of their more spectacularly inept displays this season, Richarlison is on their radar, but he said recently that he is happy at Goodison and it’s hard to see exactly which problem he would solve at Old Trafford. 7%.
Getty Images
28/50 Ryan Sessegnon
Still only 19, the winger didn’t quite light up the Premier League this season, although he was playing in a duff Fulham side. A change might do him good but Tottenham are said to be the most interested of the top six, if indeed he goes that high. 7%.
Action via Reuters
29/50 Antoine Griezmann
‘Griezzy’ is taking those luscious locks to Barcelona, probably, although things have gone quiet on that front in recent days so you never know. 7%.
AFP/Getty Images
30/50 Toby Alderweireld
Toby Alderweireld looks like he is set to depart the snappily titled Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but United have preferred centre-back targets. 8%.
Getty
31/50 Bruno Fernandes
Sporting’s talented midfielder has been linked with Manchester City too, while he’s also said he “likes” Liverpool’s style of play. 8%.
REUTERS
32/50 Saul Niguez
Has a £130m buyout clause but could go for much less after falling out with Diego Simeone. 9%.
Getty Images
33/50 Keylor Navas
Rumoured as part of an exchange deal with Real Madrid in any Paul Pogba deal. Regained his place when Zidane returned to Real ahead of Thibaut Cortois, but his future remains uncertain. 9%.
AFP/Getty Images
34/50 Jerome Boateng
Another ageing, injury-prone centre-back is probably not what United need but Bayern are willing to sell for £15m. 10%.
Getty
35/50 Jasper Cillessen
The Barcelona back-up has been cited as a potential option to replace De Gea, should he leave, and he wants game time, so it is not an implausible deal. 10%.
Getty
36/50 Kieran Trippier
Serie A is said to be the most likely destination for ‘Tripps’, whose brief period resembling Dani Alves seems a long time ago now. 11%.
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
37/50 Nicolas Pepe
Lille’s prolific winger is wanted by Manchester United and Liverpool this summer, while his manager said he’s “150% likely to leave”. Having done some detailed calculations, we’ve got him at 12%.
AFP/Getty
38/50 Gareth Bale
Bale has spent so much time on the bench under Zinedine Zidane mark II that a move to the Premier League is not impossible, and United are one of the few clubs who could meet his wage demands. The type of needless galactico signing United have made a habit of in recent years. 13%.
Getty
39/50 Moussa Dembele
United supposedly bid £35m for the Lyon forward, who has performed well since joining from Celtic, but little has been heard since those reports last month. 14%.
AFP/Getty Images
40/50 Christian Eriksen
He wants to leave and Real Madrid are yet to put in an offer, but they are thought to be growing keen since his come-and-get-me plea last week. Available cut-price with his contract running down. 14%.
Getty / Independent
41/50 Paulo Dybala
Sounds like he’s on his way out of Turin, but where? United have been linked but Inter have been mooted too, while Real Madrid were in and then out again. Nothing very concrete though, so hard to say. 15%.
REUTERS
42/50 Ruben Dias
The centre-back, left, is already a regular international and there have been reports of a mooted £50m+ transfer over in Portugal. 16%.
AP
43/50 Sean Longstaff
Early days, but seems like a Geordie Scott McTominay. Talk of a £25m transfer seems completely pointless for all involved, and therefore quite a plausible strategy for United to embark upon. 17%.
Getty
44/50 Adrien Rabiot
Available on a free transfer this summer, but that means there is plenty of interest. Would fill a gap with Ander Herrera’s departure and Paul Pogba’s future up in the air. 18%.
AFP/Getty
45/50 James Maddison
United are at the front of a bustling queue for the Leicester City midfielder, whose creativity stats have made him the Moneyball pick of the summer. 20%.
Independent
46/50 Kalidou Koulibaly
The centre-back is one of the world’s most sought-after defenders, but he will come at a huge price. Then again, United desperately need defensive reinforcements and he’s near the top of their wanted list as one of the best around. 21%.
Reuters
47/50 Matthijs de Ligt
The summer transfer target of all transfer targets. Juventus and Barcelona are in the hunt but United are said to be pushing hardest for the teenager. Louis van Gaal’s advice to De Ligt – to snub chaotic United for Guardiola’s City – won’t have gone down well with the man that hired and fired him, Ed Woodward, you suspect. 23%.
Getty Images
48/50 Harry Maguire
The Leicester and England centre-back would be an instant starter, but is another linked with Manchester City too. Jose Mourinho tried and failed to sign him last summer. Seems destined to depart the King Power, either way. 25%.
Reuters
49/50 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
A brilliant defender who would resolve one of United’s problem positions. A hefty pricetag of £50m, but then United have form for shelling out excessive sums on promising English full-backs. 36%.
Reuters
50/50 Youri Tielemans
The midfielder played so well on loan at Leicester that he has attracted interest from the very biggest clubs in Europe. United and Spurs are again reported to be competing for his affections, and our very own Miguel Delaney says he is No1 priority should Pogba go. 42%.
Getty
1/50 Manchester United ‘transfer targets’: ranked and rated
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning a summer overhaul, but who is most likely to end up at Old Trafford?
PA
2/50 Mohamed Salah
A few spurious reports in Spain claim United are lining up a monster offer of around £180m, which makes no sense on any level. 0%.
Getty
3/50 Pedro
Can we take a moment to appreciate the defending in this photo… Anyway, the Fluminense striker has reportedly agreed to join Watford so it seems like this boat has sailed. 1%.
AFP/Getty Images
4/50 Reece James
The Chelsea defender has had an outstanding season on loan at Wigan and with a potential transfer embargo looming, it seems unlikely the club would sell him – let alone to a big-six rival. New contract imminent. 1%.
Getty
5/50 Sergio Ramos
The Real Madrid captain has fallen out with the club’s hierarchy, but has since said he wants to stay and see out his career at the Bernabeu. 1%.
Reuters
6/50 Niklas Sule
A giant of a man who would improve United’s defence, but it is unclear why he would leave Bayern or why Bayern would let him go. 1%.
Getty
7/50 Robert Lewandowski
Can’t imagine it. That’s all this is based on. 2%.
EPA
8/50 Hirving Lozano
The PSV forward said he wanted to play for United a couple of months ago, but has since said he wants to play in the Champions League next season. 2%.
EPA
9/50 Thomas Meunier
Key facts: slated United’s comeback win in Paris recently, heavily linked with Arsenal; scored that lovely goal at the World Cup. 3%.
PA
10/50 Jan Oblak
The kind of quality that United would be looking for, should David de Gea leave, though it would take a huge sum to prise him from Atletico and he signed a new contract in April. 3%.
AFP/Getty Images
11/50 Joao Cancelo
Seems settled in Turin, with Manchester City reported as more likely a destination than United should he leave this summer. 3%.
REUTERS
12/50 Wilfred Ndidi
A few reports say Manchester United fans want him, but little concrete linking the club to a bid, and Leicester are keen to hold on to the midfielder. 3%.
Getty
13/50 Patrick van Aanholt
Possibly just included in the more concrete Aaron Wan-Bissaka rumours by way of neat symmetry. 4%
Getty Images
14/50 Ivan Rakitic
Didn’t play well at Anfield in the Champions League and could be usurped in midfield by Frenkie de Jong next season, but it still feels a long shot that he ends up at Old Trafford. 4%.
EPA
15/50 Philippe Coutinho
Not having a great time at the Nou Camp but was promised another season by the club president in a recent interview. Would be extremely expensive if he became available. 4%.
EPA
16/50 Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho was wanted by United this summer, but a deal looks very unlikely with huge competition and his settled place at Dortmund. 4%.
EPA
17/50 Thomas Partey
His dad seems to want him move to the Premier League, judging by his quotes in the media, but it is unclear just how serious United or any other top club are about signing the Atletico Madrid midfielder. 4%.
Getty
18/50 Declan Rice
The West Ham and England midfielder could be set for a career at the top of the game, but reports linking him to United are light on detail, and more recently Solskjaer has ‘accepted Rice is out his reach’. 4%.
Action Images via Reuters
19/50 Edinson Cavani
Perpetually linked with a PSG exit, but never actually leaves. Supposedly United and Chelsea both want him, but those rumours haven’t resurfaced for a couple of months. 5%.
AFP/Getty Images
20/50 Joao felix
The forward is one of the best young players on the planet. Manchester City are believed to lead the race for his signature, and he is an admirer of Pep Guardiola, although he just looks like he’s made for a clasico one day. 5%.
AFP/Getty Images
21/50 Tanguy Ndombele
Lyon midfielder heavily linked with Tottenham, and loosely linked with United. 5%.
REUTERS
22/50 James Rodriguez
Loan at Bayern has not been made permanent so he’s back at Real Madrid, looking for a new club. United are one of the few who could pay his wages but the links have been tenuous at best. 6%.
AFP/Getty Images
23/50 Wilfried Zaha
His last stay at Manchester United was not particularly productive and north London seems a more likely destination for the Palace forward, judging by the latest reports. 6%.
Getty
24/50 Mauro Icardi
Lost the Inter captaincy after his wife/agent fell out with the board. Could form part of a swap deal with Romelu Lukaku, but these high-profile swaps almost never happen. 6%.
Reuters
25/50 Idrissa Gueye
He wants out and PSG are reportedly eyeing the midfielder, who Everton value at more than £40m. 7%
REUTERS
26/50 Andre Onana
The impressive Ajax goalkeeper has been linked with Barcelona and Arsenal too, but is another option if De Gea departs. 7%.
REUTERS
27/50 Richarlison
Having scored this goal (pictured) against United in one of their more spectacularly inept displays this season, Richarlison is on their radar, but he said recently that he is happy at Goodison and it’s hard to see exactly which problem he would solve at Old Trafford. 7%.
Getty Images
28/50 Ryan Sessegnon
Still only 19, the winger didn’t quite light up the Premier League this season, although he was playing in a duff Fulham side. A change might do him good but Tottenham are said to be the most interested of the top six, if indeed he goes that high. 7%.
Action via Reuters
29/50 Antoine Griezmann
‘Griezzy’ is taking those luscious locks to Barcelona, probably, although things have gone quiet on that front in recent days so you never know. 7%.
AFP/Getty Images
30/50 Toby Alderweireld
Toby Alderweireld looks like he is set to depart the snappily titled Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but United have preferred centre-back targets. 8%.
Getty
31/50 Bruno Fernandes
Sporting’s talented midfielder has been linked with Manchester City too, while he’s also said he “likes” Liverpool’s style of play. 8%.
REUTERS
32/50 Saul Niguez
Has a £130m buyout clause but could go for much less after falling out with Diego Simeone. 9%.
Getty Images
33/50 Keylor Navas
Rumoured as part of an exchange deal with Real Madrid in any Paul Pogba deal. Regained his place when Zidane returned to Real ahead of Thibaut Cortois, but his future remains uncertain. 9%.
AFP/Getty Images
34/50 Jerome Boateng
Another ageing, injury-prone centre-back is probably not what United need but Bayern are willing to sell for £15m. 10%.
Getty
35/50 Jasper Cillessen
The Barcelona back-up has been cited as a potential option to replace De Gea, should he leave, and he wants game time, so it is not an implausible deal. 10%.
Getty
36/50 Kieran Trippier
Serie A is said to be the most likely destination for ‘Tripps’, whose brief period resembling Dani Alves seems a long time ago now. 11%.
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
37/50 Nicolas Pepe
Lille’s prolific winger is wanted by Manchester United and Liverpool this summer, while his manager said he’s “150% likely to leave”. Having done some detailed calculations, we’ve got him at 12%.
AFP/Getty
38/50 Gareth Bale
Bale has spent so much time on the bench under Zinedine Zidane mark II that a move to the Premier League is not impossible, and United are one of the few clubs who could meet his wage demands. The type of needless galactico signing United have made a habit of in recent years. 13%.
Getty
39/50 Moussa Dembele
United supposedly bid £35m for the Lyon forward, who has performed well since joining from Celtic, but little has been heard since those reports last month. 14%.
AFP/Getty Images
40/50 Christian Eriksen
He wants to leave and Real Madrid are yet to put in an offer, but they are thought to be growing keen since his come-and-get-me plea last week. Available cut-price with his contract running down. 14%.
Getty / Independent
41/50 Paulo Dybala
Sounds like he’s on his way out of Turin, but where? United have been linked but Inter have been mooted too, while Real Madrid were in and then out again. Nothing very concrete though, so hard to say. 15%.
REUTERS
42/50 Ruben Dias
The centre-back, left, is already a regular international and there have been reports of a mooted £50m+ transfer over in Portugal. 16%.
AP
43/50 Sean Longstaff
Early days, but seems like a Geordie Scott McTominay. Talk of a £25m transfer seems completely pointless for all involved, and therefore quite a plausible strategy for United to embark upon. 17%.
Getty
44/50 Adrien Rabiot
Available on a free transfer this summer, but that means there is plenty of interest. Would fill a gap with Ander Herrera’s departure and Paul Pogba’s future up in the air. 18%.
AFP/Getty
45/50 James Maddison
United are at the front of a bustling queue for the Leicester City midfielder, whose creativity stats have made him the Moneyball pick of the summer. 20%.
Independent
46/50 Kalidou Koulibaly
The centre-back is one of the world’s most sought-after defenders, but he will come at a huge price. Then again, United desperately need defensive reinforcements and he’s near the top of their wanted list as one of the best around. 21%.
Reuters
47/50 Matthijs de Ligt
The summer transfer target of all transfer targets. Juventus and Barcelona are in the hunt but United are said to be pushing hardest for the teenager. Louis van Gaal’s advice to De Ligt – to snub chaotic United for Guardiola’s City – won’t have gone down well with the man that hired and fired him, Ed Woodward, you suspect. 23%.
Getty Images
48/50 Harry Maguire
The Leicester and England centre-back would be an instant starter, but is another linked with Manchester City too. Jose Mourinho tried and failed to sign him last summer. Seems destined to depart the King Power, either way. 25%.
Reuters
49/50 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
A brilliant defender who would resolve one of United’s problem positions. A hefty pricetag of £50m, but then United have form for shelling out excessive sums on promising English full-backs. 36%.
Reuters
50/50 Youri Tielemans
The midfielder played so well on loan at Leicester that he has attracted interest from the very biggest clubs in Europe. United and Spurs are again reported to be competing for his affections, and our very own Miguel Delaney says he is No1 priority should Pogba go. 42%.
Getty
Pogba is currently under contract at Old Trafford until 2021, with United able to extend the midfielder’s existing deal by a further year.
United expect the World Cup-winning France international to report back for duty later this summer and remain at the club for the 2019-20 campaign.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has previously spoken of his desire to build his United team around Pogba, who initially impressed when the Norwegian replaced Jose Mourinho as manager.
Zinedine Zidane, the Madrid head coach, is a long-term admirer of Pogba and in March, he openly entertained the prospect of Pogba joining him at the Santiago Bernabeu.
