Pogba to PSG? A complicated case that may require a year’s delay

Paul Pogba to Paris Saint-Germain, it could be a long and interesting saga full of twists and turns and tactics with plenty of follow-ups. The deciding factor? Nothing but money, of course.

The French big club, as is well known, has been monitoring the situation surrounding the Manchester United midfielder, who has been at the very top of the list of coveted reinforcements for several months now. But the whole case hasn’t moved anywhere further.

Meanwhile, PSG supporters, at least some of them, are waiting daily for news of an imminent big transfer that would only confirm the immense strength of Pochettino’s squad ahead of the upcoming season, already completed in the summer by such aces as Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi or Sergio Ramos.

The other part is hanging “anti-Pogb” banners against it, clearly expressing their negative attitude towards a possible transfer. For example the one that says: “You shouldlisten to your mother. She doesn’t want you here and neither do we.”

The club’s management is not bothered by the fact that the arrival of an extremely talented footballer who is controversial in his behaviour could largely divide the crowd at Princes Park.

Leonardo, the sporting director of the French vice-champion, dreams of winning the 2018 world title and intends to make that dream a reality. When That is indeed a tough decision.

In this transfer window, Manchester United could let him go for around £50 million. The price of the 28-year-old midfielder from the original £ 89 million for which the English club brought him from Juventus in 2016 is reduced by his age, the situation around his current contract, but also by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, among other things.

A difficult dilemma for PSG

However, even this seemingly acceptable price tag may not be agreed to at the Parc des Princes. The difficult dilemma for PSG management is whether it makes sense to spend such a sum now that Pogba’s contract at Old Trafford expires next summer.

That, in turn, is a bogeyman for last season’s Premier League runners-up. Indeed, the French player has apparently refused to sign an improved contract with the club. This was despite the fact that it included a significant increase to his current salary, which would have made him the highest earning player in the entire English competition.

Instead, if he doesn’t transfer in the summer, he will be able to start negotiating in January and conclude a transfer deal in the next window. Therefore, they are concerned at Old Trafford and given Pogba’s past, it is not surprising that his performances could deteriorate rapidly as his contract expires.

So, from multiple perspectives, it would seem relatively advantageous for Manchester United to want to make the transfer now. However, the opposite is clearly true. Solskjaer still believes that the club will agree a contract extension with the player and his coaching staff are confident that even a possible longer decision on the future will not affect his performances.

Win-win for Pogba

After all, for Pogba himself, the whole current situation is a “win-win” as they say in English, i.e. whatever happens will turn out well for him.

According to respected European journalists focused on this saga, the 28-year-old would like to return to play football in France and if he doesn’t this year, it is very likely that he will next summer. So he may not even have to press his current employer too hard. Especially if he has the renowned agent Mino Raiola at his disposal.

His negative attitude towards Manchester United is no secret, on the contrary, working with PSG suits him very well. Last time he was in Paris for the arrival of goalkeeper Donnarumma, but he also represents midfielder Verratti and in the past he has negotiated with the club for example the transfers of Ibrahimovic, Matuidi or Maxwell.

Source: The Athletic