Manchester United ‘will only sell Paul Pogba if midfield star confirms desire to leave club in January’… with Frenchman entering final six months of deal next month
- Paul Pogba has yet to agree fresh terms on a contract at Manchester United
- Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with the Frenchman
- United are only prepared to sell Pogba next month if he confirms desire to leave
- Pogba can discuss a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January
Manchester United are only willing to part ways with Paul Pogba if he expresses a desire to leave the club in January.
The 28-year-old will enter the final six months of his deal next month and has yet to agree fresh terms at Old Trafford.
That leaves the France international able to discuss a pre-contract with foreign clubs from New Year’s Day, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus linked with the midfielder.
Man United are only prepared to sell Paul Pogba if he expresses a desire to leave in January
But The Mirror claim a bid to sign Pogba next month from any interested party will only be accepted if he makes it clear he wishes to depart Old Trafford.
However, the report adds the club are not expecting any advance to be made by a club to sign him during the winter transfer market, while ESPN claim the Red Devils hierarchy expect him to stay for the second half of the season.
Pogba remains sidelined following a hamstring injury suffered on international duty last month, meaning he has yet to play under interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
But the German insisted it was not his job to convince Pogba or any other member of his squad to stay at the club.
Ralf Rangnick has insisted he should not have to convince any player to play for the club
‘Players need to want to stay and play for the club,’ Rangnick said.
‘If a player doesn’t want to play for a club like Manchester United, even in the long term, I don’t think it makes sense to convince him to change his mind.
‘This is such a massive club, with fantastic support, I don’t think anyone at the club should try to convince a player to stay.
‘Let’s have him come back, get fully fit and training with the team, then we will see where we stand.’
Rangnick met Pogba for the first time in person earlier this month following his return to the UK from Dubai.
The former Juventus man has not represented the club since their 2-2 draw away at Atalanta in the Champions League, while his last top-flight appearance came in the 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool.
Pogba has not played since the Champions League draw at Atalanta due to a hamstring injury
But Rangnick – who has overseen Premier League wins against Crystal Palace and Norwich – insists he will hand Pogba the opportunity to adapt to his ‘gegenpressing’ style.
‘I have to get to know him. I have to speak to him. It is about being fully physically fit. The way we want to play is high intensity,’ Rangnick added.
‘It will take some time for him to get fully fit. Once he is fully fit, I see him as a midfielder rather than a striker or a left winger.
‘The only thing of interest to me is how do we get him fully fit.
‘He can be an important player, I am fully aware of that. But that is true for all the players. I am not only the coach of Paul Pogba. I am also the coach of all the other players.’
