L’Equipe really want to write about Paul Pogba and his Manchester United situation, but it’s clear the player’s camp isn’t in any mood to throw story bones to the French newspaper at the moment.
Therefore, they’re left looking at claims coming from elsewhere and trying to build other stories around the World Cup winner’s current situation at Old Trafford, and specifically his relationship with Jose Mourinho.
Unlike some others in France, L’Equipe haven’t yet been willing to jump into the Zinedine Zidane rumour. It must be said that from the French claims, and perhaps some English ones, it does appear some are insinuating they know rather more than they do about supposed Manchester United interest and contact.
Back to L’Equipe, and back to Pogba. On Tuesday, they go through a list of potential clubs the player could join if he’s to move in the January transfer window.
Manchester City is put forward as an option, and Pep Guardiola’s claim that Mino Raiola offered the player is obviously covered. But L’Equipe believe that Pogba has too much Man United in his heart to move to the Man City, and FFP concerns are also an issue.
The other Premier League club suggested is Chelsea, which is a new town for the Pogba circus. The French newspaper explain that recreating his partnership with N’Golo Kante would be a temptation, and Chelsea would love to make such a signing from a competitor.
Negatives on a move to Stamford Bridge in January are put as the lack of Champions League football, and whether Maurizio Sarri’s tactics would suit Pogba.
Barcelona positives are that he could play well in La Liga and would be a marketing boost, and negatives are the cost of a transfer, €200m or more, and the competition in Barca’s midfield.
Real Madrid have been interested before, allegedly, but the competition in their midfield is also a problem. PSG have other priorities and the signing wouldn’t fit with the club’s FFP plans.
Juventus is stated as unlikely because of the cost and the money invested in Cristiano Ronaldo in the last window.
L’Equipe even say Pogba would be able to find ‘calm’ in the MLS or China, but doubt he’d want such a move at 25 years of age.
