Transfer Talk: United ponder Pogba pay rise

Paul Pogba is willing to stay at Manchester United providing they make him the Premier League’s highest-paid player, according to reports.

The 28-year-old’s future has been up in the air for many months now with his current deal set to run out at the end of the season.

That makes Pogba eligible to talk to foreign clubs as early as January regarding a free transfer, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain both interested in the 2018 World Cup winner.

But in a fresh twist, it now appears that the midfield maestro — who for a long time has refused to commit to Old Trafford — is happy to stay put if his demands are met.

Currently thought to be on a £290,000-a-week deal, the Metro (via l’Equipe) say that Pogba wishes to usurp team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the club's top earner.

Portuguese megastar Ronaldo, 36, is believed to be on a pay packet of around £480,000 per week, meaning it is a significant rise being demanded by the Frenchman if he is to remain with the Red Devils.

Members of the club’s hierarchy are supposedly reluctant to cave in to Pogba’s demands and alternative options are already being considered.

Though a summer departure would see United fail to recoup any of the £89million they paid Juventus in 2016, the demands currently being floated by Pogba’s team are far above what they are prepared to offer. 

Despite the uncertainty over his future, Pogba featured in all of his side’s Premier League and Champions League clashes this term prior to a red card in United’s humbling 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool last month.

Having sat out subsequent clashes with Tottenham and Manchester City through suspension, he now faces an extended spell on the sidelines after picking up a thigh injury on France duty.

Initial reports have suggested that he could be facing 10 weeks out, meaning he will be unavailable for the entirety of the busy festive period. 

By the time he is fit for selection in January, his future may look somewhat clearer.

In other news

Spanish outlet Marca say that Barcelona will target a Premier League forward on loan in January, with three names on their shortlist.

Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling, Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani and Chelsea’s Timo Werner are all of interest to Barca due to limited playing time at their current clubs.

Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot is a top January target for struggling Newcastle, with a £13m deal in the offing according to Calciomercato.

Former PSG star Rabiot, 26, has started eight Serie A games so far this term but the Old Lady are thought to be open-minded on allowing him to depart Turin.

The Daily Star say that Liverpool are eyeing up a triple swoop to combat the expected departures of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for Africa Cup of Nations duty.

The report suggests that Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic, Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma and Torino defender Gleison Bremer are all high on the Reds’ wish list.