Realmadrid drops Pogba interest, United now favourites

Manchester United’s route to sign Paul Pogba ‘is now clear’ after Real Madrid dropped out of the race to sign him, according to reports.

Pogba has been linked with a move away from Juventus this summer for a world-record fee, claimed to be at least £100million by most sources.

The midfielder’s potential transfer from the Serie A champions could now proceed after France’s exit from Euro 2016, where he played in the final defeat to Portugal in extra time.

There have been countless claims on the 23-year-old’s future, with United ‘ beginning negotiations‘ for his signature last week, the player ‘ telling friends he wanted to return ‘ to Old Trafford the next day, and it then emerging that any potential move was ‘ not even out of the starting blocks ‘ come Sunday.

Sky Sports have now claimed that Real Madrid, who, along with United, were one of the two clubs most seriously linked to Pogba, have dropped out of the race to sign him.

They cite ‘financial reasons’, and add that ‘United’s superior financial strength’ has proved overwhelming. The basic transfer fee is understood to be £85m, with add-ons raising the eventual price to anything over £105m.

On top of that, Pogba’s basic salary would reach £250,000-per-week on a five-year deal. The figures are, frankly ridiculous.

But Sky claim that ‘Manchester United have shown willingness to meet these demands’, and with Euro 2016 now over, Messrs Woodward and Raiola ‘are now comfortable increasing the pace of negotiations and remain confident a deal can be done’.

It is thought that while the club had ‘initial reservations’ over such astronomical figures for a player they let go of four years ago, manager Jose Mourinho has persuaded the hierarchy that the midfielder is the man to bring the Premier League title back to the club.

‘United’s board accepted Mourinho’s assertion that signing Pogba was crucial, and have offered unwavering support to their new manager, demonstrating they will do whatever it takes to give him the best possible chance of winning the Premier League in his first season at the club.’