The Daily Mail report that Manchester United are currently unaware whether or not Paul Pogba will be present when the squad get ready to fly out this afternoon.
Pogba and his agent have made it clear in recent weeks that the Frenchman wants to depart Old Trafford.
After declaring in Japan last month that it might be “a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else”, Pogba’s representative Mino Raiola confirmed his intentions recently.
The Italian-born Dutchman told The Times: “Everyone knows the willingness of Paul to move on. We are in the process of that. Everyone knows what the feelings of Paul are. Everyone within the club, from the manager to the owner, knows Paul’s wishes.”
When asked whether the France international would join his team-mates in flying Down Under, Raiola said: “I cannot tell you anything. I live day by day.”
And the Daily Mail say United have intentionally delayed the announcement of their squad for the trip because of the uncertainty over the wantaway World Cup winner’s attendance.
They will reveal the travelling contingent this morning before jetting off to Perth, where they face Perth Glory next Saturday and Leeds United the following Wednesday.
The squad will have one final training session on home soil before embarking on a 17-hour direct flight.
Pogba is expected to be on the plane but United officials have not been in contact with the player since last season, with the midfielder having enjoyed extra time off after playing for France in their Euro 2020 qualifiers last month.
Reports in Pogba’s homeland have indicated that Pogba could opt not to turn up, however, as he looks to face a move away.
And following conversations his team-mates are thought to have doubts as to whether the 26-year-old will be present.
United are believed to be unaware of Pogba’s whereabouts, with social media having shown him last in New York, keeping his fitness levels up with runs around Central Park in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Former club Juventus – who United paid £89m to sign the Frenchman from three years ago – and long-time potential suitors Real Madrid are among those linked with a big-money transfer.
Man United want around £150m if they are to sell the player with it widely claimed they are reluctant to sell their club-record signing despite his wishes to leave.
But their hand could well be forced if Pogba opts not to attend their pre-season tour, with Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka the only two players excused from flying out.
Sanchez’s Copa America involvement for Chile only ended yesterday as the reigning champions lost 2-1 to Argentina in the third-placed play-off after being shocked by Peru in the semi-finals.
Summer signing Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, only returned from representing England at the European Under-21 Championship in Italy and San Marino two weeks ago.
After Australia, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad move on to Singapore and China to face Inter Milan and Tottenham in the International Champions Cup.
Upon returning to Europe, United will take on Norwegian side Kristansund BK in Oslo before a clash with AC Milan in Cardiff a week before the Premier League season gets underway against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
