According to the latest reports from the Daily Mail, Barcelona are plotting a £130m swoop for Manchester United’s star midfielder Paul Pogba. In order to fund the deal, they are willing to sell their Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic. The Frenchman is reportedly unhappy with his life at Manchester United, and after a dismal season for the Red Devils, he could look to move away from the club.
Barcelona are on course to achieving a domestic double but such is the standards they have set for themselves that even this season will be termed as a failure by many. Real Madrid had won three back to back Champions League, and given the rivalry between the two Spanish giants, Champions League was the primary goal for the Blaugrana this season.
However, after a catastrophic defeat in the second leg of the semi-finals against Liverpool, the club is in a state of shock as this is the second year in a row that they have surrendered a three-goal cushion from the first leg. The pressure is on the manager and even on some of the players to deliver the goods, and we can see some changes being made in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Paul Pogba: An Enigma
Paul Pogba’s form with Manchester United has swung like a pendulum this season. There were various reports of him falling out with former manager Jose Mourinho and the World Cup winner was benched on numerous occasions under him. However, he soon found his bearings when Ole Gunnar Solskjær took the reigns at the club and delivered some match-winning performances.
But he has looked lackadaisical in the past few months, and even several United fans have turned on him. All this might be the reason why Pogba might look for a move away. On his day, the Frenchman can be a match winner and given his skills and physical dominance; he could be tough to contain in midfield.
Is Pogba worth £130m?
However, at the moment he seems like a hit and miss player and Barcelona might be making a mistake if they decide to spend £130m on him. Not too long ago, they signed Philippe Coutinho for £142m, and they are still waiting for the Brazilian to start delivering the results at the Camp Nou. Given the way Barcelona dominate their games in the La Liga, the Frenchman can be a top player to have.
However, when the going has gone tough, the 26-year-old often goes into hiding on the pitch, and the La Liga winners need players who would add steely determination in midfield. For £130m, this could be a big mistake from the club, and they should avoid signing the Frenchman for such a price.
