Juventus are ‘working’ on the possibility of bringing Paul Pogba back to the club this summer once his contract with Manchester United comes to an end.
That’s according to Gazzetta Dello Sport, who say the Italian club and Maxilimiano Allegri have already started to lay the groundwork on a possible return to Turin.
The newspaper explains that Pogba and Juventus is a love story that never really ended, and both sides are keen to reunite if they can.
Juventus are planning a ‘big hit’ for the midfield in the summer transfer window, and their coach, Allegri, ‘would like’ Pogba to be that signing so he can coach him again.
He is not the only ‘forbidden dream’ that they are looking at, but he is the first choice on their list, and Bianconeri are working to see if they can make a deal happen.
If he shows a ‘willingness to make a financial sacrifice’ for his old love, the deal could be on, and Juventus’ idea is to exhaust their options on Pogba before moving on to other targets.
Pogba, of course, is represented by Mino Raiola, and Juventus are using the ‘good relationships’ there to their advantage.
They have already held a ‘first contact’ with Raiola regarding the midfielder, and while there is nothing official going on, they have asked the agent and those around Pogba to keep them ‘informed’ of the situation.
They want to know of other offers or even a renewal proposal from Manchester United, so they can work to understand if they match them. In other words, they want a ‘sort of right of first refusal’ on the player.
The Italian club believe they can hold off other suitors to a certain point, but the €15m he earns at Old Trafford is a sticking point.
Juventus want to continue their efforts to reduce their payroll, and while it is premature to discuss figures, they are thinking of a deal worth around €7.5m a year plus bonuses that would take it into double figures. That would mean Pogba halving his wages, at least on his base salary.
He would, however, benefit from the ‘Growth Decree’ In Italy, which offers a saving of 50% on taxes for those who have worked abroad for two years but decide to return to Italy. That would therefore see him earn and Juventus save money, a win-win for all parties.
Pogba will need to be convinced to make the sacrifice, and Allegri is ‘already working under the radar’ to try and convince the Frenchman to return to Turin.
For the time being, the midfielder is being patient and ‘waiting for the moves’ of the clubs he finds interesting before making his ‘evaluations’.
He could still remain with Manchester United and sign a new deal, but if he doesn’t, Juventus want to be at the front of the queue to rekindle their love affair.
