Manchester United Season 2019 - 2020

[Rogue Trader]

Sancho in. Pls lalong the dead wood out starting w marshal lingard Jones n matic.

Man u needs to get rid of Pogba and rebuild their team around youth players. That guy is toxic

 

[nayr69sg]

Man U needs to get Alex Ferguson back

 

[laksaboy]

Man u needs to get rid of Pogba and rebuild their team around youth players. That guy is toxic

Surely not as toxic as Neymar or Mbappe.

A good team needs a healthy mix of old farts and younglings.

 

[nayr69sg]

Surely not as toxic as Neymar or Mbappe.

A good team needs a healthy mix of old farts and younglings.

Yes. Better than young farts and oldlings.

 

[red amoeba]

Man u needs to get rid of Pogba and rebuild their team around youth players. That guy is toxic

Honestly Pogba needs to wise up and sack that fat agent of his. He is gonna run down his contract and hope Madrid will come. But Madrid is aiming Mbappé who is younger. Only hope is PSG

 

[yinyang]

Just rid of him before sell out date

Paris Saint-Germain have reached a verdict on pursuing Paul Pogba after Manchester United set a £51million asking price tag for the midfielder, according to reports in France.

Pogba, 28, has one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford and the Red Devils are willing to part ways with their player for the correct fee.

The former Juventus star was keen to postpone a decision over his future until after Euro 2020, and France's elimination at the last-16 stage means that time has come.

Pogba's second spell at United may come to an end after five years(Image: PA)

As such, they have agreed on a £51million asking price for the World Cup winner, according to L'Equipe , having paid £89million to sign him in 2016.

While the price tag represents a bargain for a player of Pogba's quality, it is a significant sum for a player who has less than 12 months remaining on their deal and could be signed for no fee next year.

Nonetheless, the report claims PSG have not been put off and will prepare a £51million bid to sign their target, who is 'seduced' by the prospect of a Ligue 1 switch this summer.

Ed Woodward can give Man Utd perfect farewell gift after PSG transfer revelation

Jose Mourinho takes thinly-veiled swipe at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with "disaster" claim
Pogba is believed to be next on the list for Parc des Princes bosses after they secured the services of midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, right-back Achraf Hakimi and centre-back Sergio Ramos.

Should Paul Pogba join Paris Saint-Germain or sign a new contract with Manchester United? Comment below.

Speaking ahead of the start of Euro 2020 last month, Pogba claimed he was yet to receive a tangible offer from United, suggesting contract talks were still in their infancy.

"I have one year of my contract left, everyone knows that," he said. "There haven't been any concrete offers yet.

"We finished the season, as I said there was the Europa League final, and after that we finished the holidays."

 

[laksaboy]

Honestly Pogba needs to wise up and sack that fat agent of his. He is gonna run down his contract and hope Madrid will come. But Madrid is aiming Mbappé who is younger. Only hope is PSG

Mbappe and Pogba don't even play in the same positions, it's never a 'either this or that' choice if money were no concern.

 

[Gallego99]

Just rid of him before sell out date

Paris Saint-Germain have reached a verdict on pursuing Paul Pogba after Manchester United set a £51million asking price tag for the midfielder, according to reports in France.

Pogba, 28, has one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford and the Red Devils are willing to part ways with their player for the correct fee.

The former Juventus star was keen to postpone a decision over his future until after Euro 2020, and France's elimination at the last-16 stage means that time has come.

View attachment 115792
Pogba's second spell at United may come to an end after five years(Image: PA)

As such, they have agreed on a £51million asking price for the World Cup winner, according to L'Equipe , having paid £89million to sign him in 2016.

While the price tag represents a bargain for a player of Pogba's quality, it is a significant sum for a player who has less than 12 months remaining on their deal and could be signed for no fee next year.

Nonetheless, the report claims PSG have not been put off and will prepare a £51million bid to sign their target, who is 'seduced' by the prospect of a Ligue 1 switch this summer.

Ed Woodward can give Man Utd perfect farewell gift after PSG transfer revelation

Jose Mourinho takes thinly-veiled swipe at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with "disaster" claim
Pogba is believed to be next on the list for Parc des Princes bosses after they secured the services of midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, right-back Achraf Hakimi and centre-back Sergio Ramos.

Should Paul Pogba join Paris Saint-Germain or sign a new contract with Manchester United? Comment below.

Speaking ahead of the start of Euro 2020 last month, Pogba claimed he was yet to receive a tangible offer from United, suggesting contract talks were still in their infancy.

"I have one year of my contract left, everyone knows that," he said. "There haven't been any concrete offers yet.

"We finished the season, as I said there was the Europa League final, and after that we finished the holidays."

Pogba and his agent the pizza bloke is trying to pull off another free transfer all over again. He's asking for 400K to stay. Get rid of him for good.

 

[Gallego99]

Wah lau. Not yet sign yet announce already?

Reminds me a bit like last time Liverpool said to have signed Salah only for Mourinho and Chelsea to sign him under their noses.

Man City or Liverpool might try to potong jalan?

He's a United player.

 

[Gallego99]

Sancho in. Pls lalong the dead wood out starting w marshal lingard Jones n matic.

Be careful what you wish for. There's a reason why Guardiola and City did not retain him. Well, Man U is about to find out. Methinks they'll keep Martial for another year and thereafter use him as a player plus cash offer for a 'better' player. Like Pogba, I doubt very much he could fulfill his potential at OT. Pity.
Have a good look at Barca players. The club is desperate to keep Messi and they're willing to sell players.

 

[yinyang]

Jadon Sancho: Is right or left wing his best Man Utd position? Or a liberator for Fernandes?​

BBC Sports
Last updated on23 July 202123 July 2021.

Where will Sancho fit in among Manchester United's attacking options?
One of Europe's longest-running transfer sagas has finally reached its conclusion, with Jadon Sancho completing a £73m move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United.
After the German side rebuffed their attempts to sign him last summer, United's gaze did not shift.

Instead of signing an alternative, they chose to wait another 12 months to complete the deal and United clearly view Sancho as the ideal fit to improve their squad.
So where exactly could he slot into this United team? The 21-year-old's time at Dortmund, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's approach at Old Trafford, could offer some clues.

• Jadon Sancho: 'Talented trailblazer, reluctant star'
• Sport Insight: How single-minded schoolboy made dream a reality

Fast progress at Dortmund​

It was evident from Sancho's first season at Dortmund - after arriving from Manchester City in 2017 - that his incredibly-mature decision-making in the final third separated him from other teenage attacking talents.
A combination of injuries and the Bundesliga outfit drip-feeding him minutes, meant he only started seven games in his first campaign, but his figures have flourished since then, averaging a goal or assist every 83 minutes last season.

Sancho at Dortmund
Season	Minutes	Goals	Assists	Minutes per goal or assist
2017-18	1,400	5	7	117
2018-19	2,967	13	20	90
2019-20	3,274	20	20	82
2020-21	2,974	16	20	83
Stats from all competitions

Moving in from the right and left​

Sancho has been successfully deployed in both wide right and left roles - predominantly in a 4-2-3-1 system - during the four seasons at Dortmund.
Interestingly, his scoring rate is significantly higher when playing on the left wing, often owing to the fact he can cut inside onto his stronger right foot.
Sancho may not be lightning quick, but the intelligence of his movement infield and runs in behind defences from wide left areas, combined with his excellent close-control dribbling, regularly gets him into goalscoring positions.

Sancho - goals on left wing v right wing
Starting position	Minutes	Goals	Minutes per goal	xG per 90 minutes
Right wing	5,265	24	219	0.26
Left wing	3,099	20	155	0.43
Stats from all competitions, aside from xG per 90 which is league only. xG = expected goals from quality of chances presented.

Sancho's game as a right winger is naturally more focused towards functioning as a creator, by playing on the flank of his stronger foot.
The England international generally makes more vertical runs in wider areas than when he's playing on the left.
Once again, his well-timed movement allows him to exploit gaps in behind opposition left-backs and his dribbling ability means he can escape covering centre-backs who subsequently get dragged out wide.
Rather than simply whipping crosses into areas, Sancho is more likely to try to pick out team-mates with cut-backs or balls into the box.

An increasing creativity​

Ex-Dortmund manager Lucien Favre's use of a 3-4-3 formation, coupled with Erling Braut Haaland's arrival at Dortmund in January 2020, has also helped develop Sancho's playmaking abilities.
With the wing-backs providing the width in the system, he has learnt to drift into more central zones to create chances, particularly to utilise the blistering speed of Haaland's runs in behind defences.
Sancho made 82 passes into the penalty area in the Bundesliga last season - the highest in the division and 13 clear of anyone else, despite only starting 24 games because of injury.
A delicate chipped assist to find Haaland's burst in last season's Champions League last-16 first-leg against Sevilla showed he can create against deeper defences - and not just the higher lines often seen in Germany's domestic competitions.

Solskjaer's balancing act​

So, how can United make the most of Sancho's strengths?
A problem area in Solskjaer's 4-2-3-1 system has been the identity of their right winger.
Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Daniel James, Juan Mata and Paul Pogba have all played in that role, with none nailing down a regular spot there.
Often, there is an imbalance with the location of United's forays forward. Last season they constructed the joint second-lowest percentage of attacks down the right side, while having the third highest percentage down the left.

In November's loss to Istanbul Basaksehir, Anthony Martial (9) and Marcus Rashford (10) had an almost identical average position in a left-central area, with Juan Mata (8) deeper and narrower on the right - 45% of United's attacks went down the left side and just 27% down the right side
Rashford, Martial and even Pogba are all players who prefer attacking from the left side.

Sancho's ability to function effectively on the right wing will prove invaluable.
United's forwards and Bruno Fernandes, with his runs into the box from a number 10 role, are likely to benefit from the quality crosses and cut-backs that Sancho will provide from that side.

Deploying him there should also free up Greenwood to gain more experience in his natural position as a central striker, especially given the 34-year-old Edinson Cavani's playing load could need careful management - after he only started 13 Premier League games last season.

Could this be Solskjaer's best forward combination?
However, with Rashford possibly ruled out for about 12 weeks if he undergoes surgery for a shoulder problem, Sancho could deputise on the left wing at the start of the campaign.
With Luke Shaw overlapping down that side, it could enhance Sancho's scoring threat by creating more space for him to cut inside.
And the former Watford youngster has displayed an ability to dovetail with fast-raiding full-backs, linking well with Achraf Hakimi and Raphael Guerreiro for 18 goals during his Dortmund career.

xA (expected assists) - Sancho v Fernandes
	2019-20	2020-21
Fernandes	0.20	0.33
Sancho	0.45	0.36
Stats from league only - xA = number of chances created that would expect to lead to goals

Sancho's assists record could also relieve the burden on Fernandes to act as United's primary creator and allow the Portuguese to occupy more advanced areas - and perhaps score more than his nine non-penalty league goals last season.

The average positions in the 2021 Europa League final against Villareal show how Fernandes (18) is often asked to play in deeper areas to act as United's creator
Sancho's arrival provides an immediate solution to United's right-wing dilemma, allows Solskjaer more flexibility in how to best use his other attacking players and, at 21, the club could have secured a player who will be a key fixture in their frontline for many years to come.

 

[yinyang]

 

[Gallego99]

Sancho can play both right or left. Versatile player across the middle. Methinks it's part of the plan should Pogba leave.

They should have a closer look at Pjanic. Same type of player as Pogba. He's available.

 

[laksaboy]

Looks like PSG's Arab owner is very desperate to win the CL.

 

[Gallego99]

The Arab owners of PSG and Man City wants to be the first to win CL. City was within a whisker to the besotted throne.

 

[yinyang]

Man Utd 'consider' using Anthony Martial in bid for Erling Haaland​

By Tom Gott
Jul 25, 2021, 10:00 PM GMT+1

Anthony Martial's future is up in the air / Marc Atkins


Manchester United remain keen on landing Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland this summer and have been tipped to use French forward Anthony Martial in a bidto sign him.

United made Haaland their top striker target a few months ago but later rejigged their priorities, instead signing Jadon Sancho and pursuing deals for Real Madrid's Raphael Varane and Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier.

The money to sign Haaland, who is likely to cost £150m, is obviously not there anymore, but according to Mundo Deportivo, there are still slim hopes of signing the Norwegian and United are exploring ways to make a deal viable.
To try and drive Haaland's price tag down, United are said to be open to the idea of sending Martial over to Dortmund in exchange.

Related Articles​

Manchester United ready to sell Anthony Martial following Jadon Sancho arrival​

Man Utd transfer news: Manchester United are ready to offload Anthony Martial after completing the signing of Jadon Sancho

Whether Dortmund would actually be keen on that is not clear, but it's hard to see the German side taking United up on that proposal. They have already rejected the idea of taking any players from Chelsea as part of a bid for Haaland and Martial is unlikely to be enough to convince them to change their minds.
The chances of United signing a new big-name striker are slim to none this summer, but that still doesn't mean that Martial's future at the club is safe.
United were expected to listen to offers from Martial last month, and since the arrival of Jadon Sancho, that idea has only grown in strength and United are open to offloading the 25-year-old, who bagged seven goals in 36 games last season.
This report mentions Barcelona as potential suitors for Martial. The Blaugrana have been watching him for a while now, but this summer isn't exactly the best time for them to make their move. Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few months, you'll have heard that Barcelona are in a little bit of a financial pickle these days.

Martial could still be sold / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Recent reports have linked Tottenham with a move for Martial, so expect a resurgence of the rumours suggesting he could be used in a swap deal for Harry Kane.
Martial's future could hinge on just how highly United value him. His stock has never been lower than it is right now, but with three years left on his contract (and an option for a fourth), United aren't going to let him go for cheap.

 

[Gallego99]

Martial can go. Hasn't quite fulfill his potential at Old Trafford. Methinks Haaland will land at Stamford Bridge.

 

[yinyang]

Raphael Varane: Man Utd confirm agreement with Real Madrid to sign defender​

BBC football Last updated on27 July 202127 July 2021

Varane has scored 17 times in all competitions during his 10 years at Real
Manchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid to sign defender Raphael Varane.
It is understood the clubs have agreed an initial fee of £34m, which could rise to £42m, and that Varane, 28, has agreed terms on a four-year contract with the option for another 12 months.

United said the transfer would be completed "subject to a medical and to player terms being finalised".
Varane, a World Cup winner with France, has made 360 appearances for Real.
"Real Madrid wants to show all its affection to Raphaal Varane and his family and wishes him good luck in this new stage of his professional career," the club said in a statement.

"Our club thanks you for your professionalism and exemplary behaviour during the 10 seasons in which you defended our shirt."
Varane, who has 79 caps, will become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's third signing in this transfer window - following the re-signing of goalkeeper Tom Heaton and the £73m arrival of England winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
BBC Sport understands Varane will quarantine before having his medical, after which he will complete his move.
United, who agreed a fee with Real on Monday, have been long-term admirers of Varane, whose contract was due to expire next summer.

Former boss Sir Alex Ferguson originally pursued a deal for the player before his move to Madrid, and Jose Mourinho was also keen to add the defender to his squad during his time at Old Trafford.

Varane's journey to Old Trafford​

After coming through Lens' academy, Varane broke into the first team at the age of 17, and while he was unable to steer them away from relegation, his performances attracted the attention of some of Europe's top clubs.
Despite strong interest from United, Real signed the teenager on a six-year contract in 2011, and he went on to make 15 appearances in all competitions during his first season in Spain as Mourinho's side regained the title.
That was the start of Varane's impressive trophy haul during his decade in the Spanish capital.
He helped Carlo Ancelotti's side clinch their 10th European title - 'La Decima' - in the 2013-14 season, making seven appearances and partnering Sergio Ramos in the final as they beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra time in Lisbon.

Best success rate from aerial duels by La Liga defenders (2020-21)
	Aerial duels	Aerial duels won	Aerial duels win rate
Raphael Varane	96	73	76%
David Garcia	220	162	73.6%
Felipe	105	77	73.3%
Sofian Chakla	52	38	73.1%
Gerard Pique	86	61	70.9%
Jawad El Yamiq	71	50	70.4%

Varane was also a key figure under compatriot Zinedine Zidane, who replaced Rafael Benitez as manager in January 2016, as Los Blancos secured a hat-trick of Champions League titles from 2016-2018.
However, a hamstring injury ruled him out of the 2016 final against Atletico and France's European Championship campaign that summer, which ended in defeat in the final.
Having battled injuries during the 2016-17 season, Varane enjoyed arguably his strongest year in 2017-18 as Real beat Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, before he starred for France at the 2018 World Cup, playing every minute of Les Bleus' triumphant campaign in Russia.
Varane's performances for club and country during 2017-18 saw him finish seventh in the Ballon d'Or rankings - the highest-placed defender - and he was named in the Uefa Team of the Year.
The centre-back has had his share of disappointments too, however, most notably in 2019-20 when his error-strewn display led to Real's Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Manchester City.
Varane also played every minute of France's Euro 2020 campaign, which ended with a last-16 penalty shootout defeat by Switzerland.

United have outspent rivals in Solskjaer era​

Should the Varane deal be completed as expected, United will have spent just short of £400m on players since Solskjaer was appointed manager on a permanent basis in March 2019.

That eclipses the outlay of Manchester City (£298m), Chelsea (£262m), Tottenham (£255m) Arsenal (£243m) and Liverpool (£119m) in the same period, according to Transfermarkt.

Varane is the fourth defender United have brought in since conceding 54 goals during the 2018-19 Premier League season, after Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Alex Telles.

Having acquired Maguire and Wan-Bissaka in the summer of 2019, the Red Devils conceded 36 goals as they finished third in 2019-20.
They climbed a place to finish second behind Manchester City last season, letting in 44 goals, 12 more than their neighbours.
It is understood any further signings this summer are likely to depend on outgoings.

Players Man Utd have signed during Solskjaer's reign (fees according to Transfermarkt)
	Transfer fee	Club signed from
Jadon Sancho	£73m	Borussia Dortmund
Tom Heaton	Free	Free agent
Donny van de Beek	£35m	Ajax
Amad Diallo	£19m	Atalanta
Alex Telles	£13.5m	Porto
Facundo Pellistri	£7.6m	Penarol
Edinson Cavani	Free	Free agent
Bruno Fernandes	£56m	Sporting Lisbon
Odion Ighalo	Loan	Shanghai Shenhua
Harry Maguire	£78m	Leicester
Aaron Wan-Bissaka	£50m	Crystal Palace
Daniel James	£16m	Swansea

'Varane will bring leadership and tactical nous' - analysis​

BBC Sport's Simon Stone
This certainly seems like an excellent deal for Manchester United.
Varane has precisely the back-story they need to bring leadership and tactical nous to their defence. The experience of starting three Champions League finals victories and a World Cup final win is invaluable in what is a relatively young United squad.

United have been able to exploit a weak transfer market - they were the only realistic option for Varane if he decided to leave Real - and the financial issues affecting all Spain's leading clubs to come up with a deal attractive enough to entice a player of true international quality.
The big question for United now is whether they are done in the market this summer.

That may well depend on whether Paul Pogba decides to sit out the remaining year of his contract or if he would be willing to accept a lower salary that may be on offer in 12 months' time in order to get a move to PSG.

Axel Tuanzebe seems the most likely central defender to make way for Varane, potentially on loan to Newcastle, although doubts hang over the futures of Diogo Dalot, Brandon Williams, Jesse Lingard and Phil Jones, who did not make a single appearance last season and has not been involved so far during pre-season games against Derby and QPR.

Balancing the finances is important for United. However, for the fans, they just want to see Varane in action. Coming so soon after Jadon Sancho's move from Borussia Dortmund was confirmed, optimism around Old Trafford has not been so high for quite some time.

'A complete player' - what they've said about Varane​

Real Madrid and Belgium attacker Eden Hazard: "I've come across some fantastic defenders during my career, such as John Terry and Vincent Kompany. I think that although [Varane] is still young, he's already one of the best centre-backs of all time. His partnership with Sergio Ramos is wonderful."
Former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho in 2014: "I think Varane is the best central defender in the world. He is still young, but I think he's the best."
Liverpool and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk: "Sergio Ramos's teammate at Real Madrid, Raphael Varane, is my favourite. He is an excellent defender and has already won a lot."
France manager Didier Deschamps: "When he is 100% fit, he knows how to do everything. He's very strong defensively, he is fast. He has good anticipation. He's never in trouble on the ball. He can score goals at set-pieces. That makes him a complete player."

 

[yinyang]

Paul Pogba key to Man United transfer plans after Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane deals​

Jul 26, 2021

• 
  
  Mark OgdenSenior Writer, ESPN FC

Manchester United signed Paul Pogba from Juventus for £89.3 million to turn them into Premier League contenders in 2016, but five years on, offloading the France midfielder now holds the key to their title prospects.

Raising £50m or more by allowing Pogba to leave the club before his contract expires in June 2022 could be the difference between United making one or two priority signings -- Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane -- or having the resources to move for other targets including Kieran Trippier, Eduardo Camavinga and Jules Kounde.

Sources have told ESPN that United's owners, the Glazer family, have given manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a £100m transfer fund for the summer window, but that figure will be topped up by any money raised by the departures of those players deemed not to have a future at Old Trafford.
There are a number of players who United will happily let go if they receive the right offer. Jesse Lingard, Brandon Williams, Diogo Dalot, Alex Telles, Phil Jones, Andreas Pereira, Daniel James and potentially Anthony Martial could all leave United this summer if an acceptable offer to sign them is received. United also have four senior goalkeepers on their books following the free transfer of Tom Heaton from Aston Villa, so Dean Henderson or David de Gea could also move out, on loan or permanently.

But Pogba is the likely game-changer for United because of the fee the 28-year-old still commands in the transfer market.
As it stands, United have already spent £72.9m of their £100m fund by signing England winger Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. The club are still attempting to negotiate a fee with Real Madrid to sign Varane, with the Spanish club holding out for an unrealistic £60m for the centre-back who is entering the final year of his contract, but with Real needing to raise money for their own rebuilding programme, that deal is likely to happen in the region of £40m at some stage.

If United can agree a fee of around £40m for the France defender, that would take their summer spending beyond £110m, so they will have to find a way to bring in more money in order to make further signings.

Offloading fringe players will only raise so much, with Lingard likely to bring in the most following his impressive loan spell at West Ham last season. If United can raise £20m with the exit of Lingard, they could reasonably expect to take their outgoing deals to the £50m mark by letting the likes of Williams, Dalot, Telles, Jones, Pereira and James depart. Martial would perhaps bring in around £25m too, but there is no queue of clubs waiting to spend that kind of money to sign the inconsistent French forward amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
But while football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher have helped give United greater focus in terms of recruitment this summer, with deals already done for Sancho and Heaton, the reality remains that the Glazers and outgoing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward have the final say on ins and outs.

Murtough and Fletcher have taken much of the heavy lifting away from Woodward by focusing on the day-to-day challenges over the ins and outs of players, but transfer policy continues to be set by the Glazers and Woodward is still the gatekeeper between the recruitment staff and the owners.
The message from the top is clear: money must be raised by trimming the squad in order to spend more on new signings beyond Heaton, Sancho and Varane. Which is why Pogba's future has become so pivotal to Solskjaer's hopes of building a title-winning squad this summer.
play

Ogden: Expect Sancho to create more goals than score them with Manchester United​

ESPN FC's Mark Ogden explains what a successful season would be for Jadon Sancho after his big money move to Manchester United.
Sources have told ESPN that the United hierarchy have little confidence that Pogba will sign a new contract before it expires in less than 12 months. Publicly, the message is that talks are ongoing over a new deal, but the reality is that United will let him go if Paris Saint-Germain follow through with their attempt to sign the player.
Pogba's exit would unquestionably see United lose one of the world's top midfielders, but he has rarely lived up to that billing since arriving from Juventus in a then-world-record £89.3m transfer in August 2016.
So the money his exit could generate, on top of the likelihood of £50m raised by other outgoing transfers, would give Solskjaer another £90m-£100m to spend this summer, and that sum could unlock the door to the arrivals of Trippier, Camavinga and Kounde.
United would also see their wage bill cut by £300,000 a week -- £15.6m a year -- if Pogba moved on, and that savings could help pay for the bulk of the wages of two or three new signings.

Many other clubs are in the same position as they look to move players on before they can bring any in. Manchester City are assessing which players could help land top targets Harry Kane and Jack Grealish, while Real Madrid and Barcelona are also having to make tough business decisions that usually only trouble smaller clubs.

United's main issue is finding clubs who would take their fringe players and Pogba, however. PSG are the only team with a confirmed interest in Pogba, although he could yet be used as part of a swap deal for Varane if Real continue to keep United waiting.
As for the rest of the players that Solskjaer is prepared to let go, it may be a case of waiting until the final days of the transfer window next month before deals fall into place. Whether United can wait that long is another matter, but sanctioning the exit of Pogba in the weeks ahead could be the move that makes a huge difference for Solskjaer and his chances of delivering the title, or any trophy, to Old Trafford next season.

 

[yinyang]