According to a recent print edition of L’Equipe (transcripted and translated by The Daily Mail), Manchester United playmaker Paul Pogba remains at the top of Real Madrid’s summer wishlist as Zinedine Zidane is eyeing a cut-price deal to bring the powerful Frenchman to the Spanish capital. The same source has also revealed that the Red Devils are resigned to losing Pogba in this off-season and are set to demand a fee lower than the £87m fee that they were looking for a year ago. This could open the door for Los Blancos to seal a move for his services during the summer transfer window (transcripted and translated by The Daily Mail).
Pogba’s Injury-Ridden Season At Old Trafford
If accurate, this latest development will be a welcome bit of news for anyone associated with the La Liga outfit as they are in dire need of bringing in some quality midfield reinforcements in the coming months to replace the ageing veteran Luka Modric and the injury-prone playmaker James Rodriguez.
Pogba has experienced an underwhelming spell under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer so far after making only eight appearances for Man United this term on all fronts. He has just got two assists to his name, having received a total of 610 minutes of game time on the pitch.
Maybe a high-profile switch to Madrid could offer him the perfect chance to make a fresh start by rediscovering his old form in European football. There is no denying that the Red Devils have felt Pogba’s injury absence. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done well to cope with the ex-Juventus powerhouse’s unavailability and has successfully kept his players in the top-four hunt this season.
However, the unexpected stop to this campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic could mean that the Frenchman might as well have played his last game for Man United especially if the Premier League decide to postpone the season for a longer duration. Either way, the 27-year-old is set to play a vital role for Didier Deschamps’ French national side in next year’s UEFA European Championship finals after netting ten goals in 69 senior matches for his country thus far.
What Will The French International Bring To The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium?
When Pogba is firing on all cylinders, he can be a devasting weapon in the opposition half. He has the pace and the power to generate a lot of problems for the opposition defenders. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner can pick out a killer pass in the final third and is also a potent goal-threat from long range as his strikes pack a lot of venom and precision. However, a serious ankle problem has hampered his progress at the Theatre of Dreams. Hence, there are some concerns over whether he will be able to maintain his high standards upon his return to action next season.
Is Pogba The Right Fit For Los Blancos?
Pogba will add a lot of goals and creativity to the Madrid midfield and could also serve as a significant upgrade over any of Zidane’s current midfield options at the Bernabeu. He might end up being a dream acquisition for Los Blancos as he will instil a winning mentality inside the Madrid dressing room. With Modric inching closer towards the end of his playing career and James Rodriguez failing to deliver a consistent run of performances on the field, the French powerhouse will be a welcome addition to Zidane’s squad as he ticks all the right boxes in terms of what the Madrid head coach expects from his midfielders.
Recruiting a quality playmaker and a serial winner like Pogba will be a massive coup for the La Liga giants heading into the new campaign. The 27-year-old will undoubtedly help the Spanish club compete for multiple trophies in the coming seasons, which makes him an excellent fit for Zidane’s Madrid team.
