Duncan Castles has been speaking on the latest episode of the Transfer Window podcast, where he discussed Paul Pogba’s future at Manchester United.
The France World Cup winner has been in scintillating form for the Red Devils this season, as his 6.94 WhoScored rating shows, but his current contract runs out in 2022, and he’s long been linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
Earlier in the season, Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola came out and said his client is ‘unhappy‘ at the Premier League giants, sparking talk that the 28-year-old could be set for a big-money move this summer; with Real Madrid the club linked closest.
Castles has now provided an update on Pogba’s future, revealing how Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, who is also a client of Raiola, could hold the key to the former Juventus man’s next destination.
He said: (5:37) “This obviously is important in terms of what happens to Manchester United’s midfield, but also as an extra dimension to it in terms of what happens with Erling Haaland, I am told.
“Haaland, also a Mino Raiola client, Haaland is in far greater demand than Paul Pogba, kind of in a position that Pogba was in a few years ago with most of the big clubs in Europe examining the possibility and the financial terms required to sign him, Manchester United being one of them, of course, Chelsea being another, Real Madrid also in that list of suitors.
“What I’m told is that Raiola is putting a lot of effort into moving Haaland to Real Madrid because he believes that by securing a deal for Haaland to Madrid, getting Florentino Perez to work with them on that transaction, he can simultaneously facilitate a move for Pogba to Real Madrid.
“So, in his own personal interests of retaining one of his valuable clients, he will and has been trying to push Haaland towards Madrid to make both of those deals happen and keep Pogba on his books beyond this summer’s transfer window.”
TIF Thoughts on Pogba…
The World Cup winner has played a pivotal part for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season, bagging five goals and providing three assists in 29 appearances.
If he does end up departing his boyhood club for a second time, it will be a huge blow to United’s revolution under their Norweigan manager, and a top-class replacement would be required in the next window.
Pogba’s return to English shores hasn’t quite gone to plan, however, with only a League Cup and Europa League crown to show for his efforts, but he still remains one of the best – if not the best – players at the club and his presence would be sorely missed.