A report by the Telegraph has claimed Paul Pogba is open to Premier League offers if he leaves Manchester United in the summer.
They claim that Pogba wants to wait until the end of the season to decide his future and wants to delay talks over a contract extension.
Paris Saint-Germain and Pogba’s former club Juventus are both mentioned in the report, and Barcelona seem to be sniffing around any elite player available on a free transfer or cut-price deal.
Pogba would apparently be open to remaining in England even if this summer does signal the end of his Old Trafford stay – but where would he go?
Perhaps the fact that Pogba came through the ranks at United would preclude him from joining the club’s two bitterest rivals Manchester City or Liverpool.
That said, as the report says, Pep Guardiola says he was offered Pogba by his agent Mino Raiola in 2018, so perhaps not.
But surely City wouldn’t take him anyway; he does not press as relentlessly as Guardiola demands and they need to spend big on a striker this summer, not another midfielder.
Liverpool’s wage structure probably wouldn’t accommodate Pogba, and Jurgen Klopp’s insistence on high energy and selflessness from his central midfielders would not suit him at all.
Below the top four, no other club could likely afford him, with the exception of Newcastle, but it seems unlikely Pogba would go there over PSG or Juventus.
That means that Chelsea are realistically Pogba’s only option if he wants to remain in the Premier League.
The Blues could afford his wages and Pogba plays his best football on France duty with N’Golo Kante next to him.
That is generally in a central midfield two as well, which would fit well with Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-2-1 system.
The loan swoop for Saul has not worked for anyone at Stamford Bridge, so Chelsea could well be in the market for a new midfielder come the summer.
The club are up there fighting for the biggest honours as the reigning Champions League holders and closer to a title challenge than United. They also just won the Club World Cup.
It still looks more likely that Pogba will head overseas in the summer, with PSG in a financial position to make him a tempting offer and bring him back to his home country.
But if he does remain on these shores, a move to Stamford Bridge looks most likely for Pogba.
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