The biggest transfer deals take time, patience and a lot of work before they can be completed and that is certainly the case for Paul Pogba.
Real Madrid want to sign him this summer, with Zinedine Zidane having identified the Frenchman as the ideal signing for his summer rebuild.
The problem is that Manchester United aren’t willing to let Pogba go on the cheap, despite the fact he’s made it clear he wants to leave Old Trafford and his agent, Mino Raiola, is pushing hard for it to happen.
As a result, his potential move has become a bonafide saga already and given the Spanish transfer window doesn’t close until September there’s plenty of time for further developments.
AS cover the whole affair in their latest edition and even have quotes from an insider to explain what’s going on.
The newspaper explains that Real Madrid are confident of getting a deal for Pogba done by August 8th, which is the Premier League’s new deadline, although the source explains that: “It could last until late August … why not?”
Real Madrid and Raiola have the whole affair planned out and part of that was Pogba and Raiola putting the pressure on Manchester United with their quotes to the media about him wanting to leave.
Madrid will now wait until August to make their first offer for the Frenchman and if that fails, ‘could then make an attempt later that month’. If they cannot get Pogba before August 8th they will ‘reorganise their strategy’ and keep trying or look at alternatives.
Manchester United want at least €200m for Pogba and are looking at replacements, namely Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen or Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and AS believe that shows they are willing to do a deal.
Madrid ‘would not pay more than 150 in any case’ and, are now focusing on getting rid of players such as Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez so they can comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.
A source said to be close to Pogba is quoted as saying: “We have to keep calm, we are working on it.”
