When Juventus sold Paul Pogba back to Manchester United, they did so very reluctantly, knowing full well it would be near impossible to replace the midfielder.
However, the money put on the table by the Premier League side was simply too appealing to refuse, especially for a player they had managed to bring in on a free.
Now, with Pogba looking for a change of air once again (according to the media, at least), Juventus want him to come back to Turin, but they know it will be extremely difficult.
Financing his wages (€14m/year post tax, €20m with bonuses) would require some movement down their end in terms of exit, and they have three names in mind to try and achieve that.
The first is Douglas Costa, whom Gazzetta dello Sport explain both Manchester United and Manchester City like, and whom Maurizio Sarri has reluctantly given the green light to sell if it means he gets the midfielder he wants.
For the Italian newspaper, he could become the ideal ‘bargaining chip’ to get Pogba in.
However, if that doesn’t quite meet Manchester United’s standards, then there’s also the Adrien Rabiot option.
The French midfielder is wanted by Carlo Ancelotti at Everton, but Gazzetta state it could be ‘more convenient’ for Juventus to use him as part of the Pogba deal.
They know the former Paris Saint-Germain man’s valuation of €30m is some way off his compatriot’s, meaning the Serie A champions would then have to add more money on top or an extra player.
That could be Federico Bernardeschi, who ‘would prefer a move to Spain’ to the Premier League, but should United appreciate the chance to have him, the Italian could ‘become an ace in the hole for the Pogback deal’.
So, the idea would be to include at least one of these in any move for Pogba, or maybe two, but we doubt it’ll be all three.
Either way, there are expendables at Juventus this summer, and the Serie A champions plan to use them to their advantage if they can.
