According to The Sun, Manchester United are ready to offload Paul Pogba in exchange for Matthijs de Ligt. The Frenchman is keen on leaving Old Trafford, and it seems a return to Juventus could be on the cards. Similarly, de Ligt has struggled since his move to Juve last summer, with United ready to offer him a way out of Turin.
Is Paul Pogba an essential force in the Man United midfield?
There is no doubt that Pogba is the best midfielder Manchester United have at their disposal. Despite his fair share of critics, the Frenchman has provided the goods in the middle third of the pitch. While whether or not he has lived up to his price-tag remains debatable, he is certainly one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Especially in the creative department, Pogba’s incredible ability to find long passes and open up opposing defences is second to none. The ex-Juventus sensation has notably registered 31 assists for Manchester United, 19 of which have come during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Premier League campaign.
Another key element of Pogba’s game is his ability to carry the ball around in half-spaces. His physicality also becomes useful in a one v one – making him an ideal fit for the Premier League.
Injuries & lack of identity
Pogba’s injury problems have prevented Manchester United from fully utilising his capability. An ankle injury has already kept him out on the sidelines for almost the entirety of the ongoing 2019/20 campaign while the midfielder also suffered several other spells on the sidelines throughout his career at Old Trafford.
Blame should also be put on the Manchester United coaching staff for not being able to identify Pogba’s ideal role during the first stage of his career at Old Trafford. This is the reason why most of the Frenchman’s excellent performances have come in the past couple of seasons.
Can Manchester United prosper without Pogba?
Pogba’s potential departure away from Old Trafford could serve as a massive blow for Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer. Especially if we consider his lack of options in central midfield, the Norwegian coach could be in huge trouble if he fails to find a proper replacement in the summer.
Nemanja Matic’s decline over the past few years has been quite evident while Fred, too, hasn’t been able to live up to his expensive price-tag. Scott McTominay has shown positive signs and is probably the only reliable option for Solskjaer. But even then, McTominay needs a reliable partner, and that’s where Manchester United could be taking a huge risk by offloading Pogba in the summer.
