Pogba deal: Mourinho to offer £117m; Mino Raiola in is Manchester now
Jul 19, 2016 at 6:09 PM
Manchester United are growing even more confident about the signing of Paul Pogba, according to latest reports in Italy.
The Gazzetta dello Sport lead their Tuesday edition with a stunning update on the Juventus midfielder, claiming that ‘the negotiation is now taking shape’ with his former club United, who he recently described as his “first family”.
The media outlet adds that talks have reached the ‘decisive phase’, with agent Mino Raiola having flown to Manchester to meet delegates of the club.
Today’s headlines from the Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport. https://t.co/EgoiB1xznp pic.twitter.com/iWIoMdc82h
— footballitalia (@footballitalia) July 19, 2016
Tuttosport add more spice to the speculation, reporting that United ‘care for’ the 23-year-old, which is sweet. If he wants to return to the club he left in 2012, then Jose Mourinho will pay €140m for him, which translates to £117m – even more than previously claimed.
Both Italian newspapers report that while speculation has been going on all summer concerning Pogba, things are now more serious as United push for a deal.
Gazzetta claims that ‘Pogba would be offered €12m per season on a five year contract,’ with the remainder of the €140m representing the transfer fee. They brand it United’s ‘final attack’ for the midfielder.
Carlo Laudisa, who is eminently reliable on Serie A news, added the following:
#Pogba close to #United: offer of € 100 + 24 (bonus) mio. Work in progress, #Juve
— Carlo Laudisa (@carlolaudisa) July 18, 2016
If the two clubs can agree a deal the Frenchman would become United’s fourth summer signing following the arrivals of Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. If a deal can be concluded Pogba would return to the club he left in 2012.
The new United manager, José Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal in the summer, and the team fly to China this week for the club’s pre-season tour. There they will face Borussia Dortmund on 22 July and Manchester City three days later.
Ibrahimovic is not in the travelling party but Mkhitaryan and Bailly are. Luke Shaw will continue to step up his fitness after making his return from long-term injury in the weekend friendly at Wigan, while Axel Tuanzebe, Will Keane and Andreas Pereira will get a chance to impress on the week-long trip.