The Daily Star has recently mentioned that Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is set to be offered a new three-year contract. It is believed that Man United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is eager to tie the Frenchman down to a new contract with his current deal running out at the end of next season. The Daily Star has also stated that the Red Devils are willing to offer Pogba a three-year deal which will see him earn in excess of £225,000-a-week, making him one of the highest-paid players in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.
Pogba’s Unimpressive Season At Old Trafford
The 27-year-old experienced an underwhelming season at the Theatre of Dreams after being sidelined for a significant chunk of the campaign due to a serious ankle injury. The former Juventus midfielder struggled to be productive in the attacking third and ended the last term with just one goal and four assists to his name in 22 appearances across all competitions.
However, Pogba deserves some praise for his all-around contributions at the centre of the park as he has averaged 1.4 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 0.6 clearances, 1.4 shots, 1.8 key passes and 2.0 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League last season. He took care of the ball in midfield as evident from his pass completion rate of 85.5% in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).
When playing with confidence on the field, the 69-time French international can be a joy to watch as he possesses the ability to win a match on his own using his individual brilliance going forward. However, his recent seasons have been full of frustration at Old Trafford. Therefore, Pogba will have a lot to fight for in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.
What Are The French International’s Greatest Strengths?
On his day, Pogba can be a real game-changer as he possesses the vision and passing range to be a creative influence in the opposition half. The Frenchman can strike the ball with a lot of power which makes him a goal-threat from long range. He is also a powerful runner with the ball and can provide some decent defensive cover at the back as well.
There is no doubting Pogba’s quality and worth as a midfielder, but there are some concerns over his recent form as he has struggled to be effective in the final third. His record of one goal and four assists last season was simply not good enough for a player of Pogba’s high standards. Maybe sorting out his long-term future would help the player get back to his best next season.
Solskjaer needs to keep hold of his best stars like Pogba if he intends to build a strong team capable of challenging for major trophies in the coming seasons. If the French playmaker can find some form in pre-season, then he could potentially form a devastating attacking partnership with Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial at the north-west of England in the upcoming campaign.
