The financial reality of Paul Pogba and Jack Grealish’s situations

Add as preferred source on Google

Paul Pogba’s future at Manchester United is looking bleak. Even if he plays tonight against RB Leipzig, his days look numbered.

Agent Mino Raiola told Tuttosport Pogba will not be signing a new deal. There appears to be no way back.

Attention among fans has already turned to potential replacements. Who could United buy with the funds gained from selling Pogba?

A commonly referred to target among fans is Jack Grealish. The Premier League star has the combination of creativity and swagger which United want from Pogba on a consistent basis.

Grealish would be a good signing; and he unfortunately would not come at all cheap.

The sad reality which kills off a Grealish swoop

United wanted to sign Grealish in the summer, and baulked at Aston Villa’s £80 million asking price [The Times].

Now after a tremendous start to the season, Grealish’s value has increased further.

He has now established himself as an England international, and has five goals and five assists in nine league games.

The Mail report Villa would now demand £100 million in order to sell Grealish.

There is an ‘English tax’ in there for sure, but it illustrates Grealish’s soaring value and Villa are entitled to value the player they own as they so wish, in order to deter buyers.

So Grealish would cost more than the fee United paid for Pogba, and while he may be worth the money, it just is not a viable deal.

The different in Grealish and Pogba’s monetary values is quite stark.

Pogba is no longer worth the kind of money associated with Grealish. Not after two-and-a-half years of inconsistent and often poor form, combined with injury problems.

He has just 18 months remaining on his contract, knocking down his price tag further.

Contract length is the big factor here. Grealish signed a new deal at Aston Villa just earlier this season which will run until 2025.

If United sell Pogba, United may get £50 to £60 million. Signing Grealish would be a mammoth task, not a case of simply using the proceeds to buying a replacement.

It would make far more sense for United to look elsewhere.

• Moroccan press react to Noussair Mazraoui performance for Morocco vs Brazil
• How Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Noussair Mazraoui fared during Brazil vs Morocco
• Kobbie Mainoo will be relishing Ruben Amorim clash as reunion now becomes real possibility
• Tyler Fletcher is learning Scott McTominay’s biggest strength during World Cup training
• Man Utd admire Premier League star who was labelled the next Rio Ferdinand amid contract dispute
• Kobbie Mainoo and Leny Yoro in agreement over Man Utd ‘one to watch’ next season
• Forget Tchouameni, Man Utd must raid Real Madrid for an era defining market opportunity
• Not only Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic has become really ‘close’ with one other former Man Utd teammate
• Fabrizio Romano shares what Man Utd are now trying to do in Mateus Fernandes transfer negotiations