Should they fail to sign Pogba, Man United are willing to move for this Arsenal target
Jul 18, 2016 at 5:23 PM
According to a report from a French newspaper, L’Equipe Manchester United have now lined up Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi as a backup option if they fail to tempt Pogba into a move.
But Jose Mourinho will face a tough challenge from two other Premier League giants as Matuidi earlier this month hinted that he would only consider offers from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, United, and Tottenham.
Arsenal and Chelsea both showed their interest on the Frenchman in the past, so it may appear to be a bidding war over the next few weeks.
29-year-old Matuidi has already been on the United radar in the past, and new manager Jose Mourinho is interested in signing the France international to fill his fourth “priority” signing which he identified in his first press conference earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Juventus are determined not to let go Pogba and have even offered the midfielder a two-year contract extension on improved wages, but Pogba’s fate is believed to be hanging in his own hands considering that United are ready to meet Juventus’s £100m valuation for the France international.
It’s expected that a deal to see Pogba return to Old Trafford would not be hard to come by providing the player himself wants a move back to the Premier League.
Matuidi’s future at PSG has been thrown up in the air somewhat by the arrival of midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, with new manager Unai Emery moving swiftly to bring the Poland international with him as the pair moved from Sevilla to Paris.