Manchester United: Pogba latest; star names to leave; 12-goal midfielder targeted

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Manchester United’s attempts to complete the re-signing of Paul Pogba this summer have been significantly drawn out thanks to France’s ultimately doomed run to the final of the European Championships they hosted. Les Bleus’ 1-0 defeat to Portugal, thanks to Éder’s wonderful striker, means that Jose Mourinho and United are finally able to try and secure what will be a world record signing.

Real Madrid have officially withdrawn their interest for Pogba, and the Frenchman’s agent Mino Raiola has approved the personal terms that United have offered to the midfielder. This development is huge for United, who suddenly are the only team in the running for the transfer and have the financial capabilities to make a bid that would test the resolve of Juventus.

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Although £100 million is way too much to pay for Pogba, especially considering United lost the player for free only a mere four years ago, it would be a huge statement to secure the world record signing, especially without the draw of Champions League football.

Pogba would add significant skill, energy and the drive to push United from the middle of the park; where they were stuck under van Gaal, into attack. His signing would show that Mourinho is transforming the team into a more positive force, and a push for the Premier League title could be a real possibility.

Elsewhere, Mourinho’s transformation continues from within the club as the new manager as he looks set to axe Juan Mata, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and rebuild the senior squad to suit his purposes.

It would be a shame for the likes of Mata and Blind to depart Old Trafford. Mata, who has been sold by Mourinho once before, may not be the most physically imposing specimen, but his vision and technical ability on the ball marks him out as one of the most creative attacking forces in the Premier League. The Spaniard gives United something different in attack, so it would perhaps be wise for Mourinho to reconsider his decision to sell.

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The same can be said of Daley Blind. The Dutchman, like Mata, is not the most gifted physically, but his reading of the game and versatility make him a very useful squad player. Furthermore, Eric Bailly, who at 22 is promising but far from the finished product, is the only defender Mourinho has purchased so far this summer. Losing Blind would be saying goodbye to an intelligent footballer.

However, the time is right to move Rojo and Schweinsteiger on. At 31, Schweinsteiger’s best days are behind him, and he failed to make an impact on the team last season, struggling to impose himself on the Premier League.

As for Rojo, he has never been the perfect fit for United. The Argentine is the sort of defender who sits somewhere between a centre-back and a left-back. He is not good enough defensively to play in the middle, and not good enough going forward to play at left-back. With Mourinho likely to play a back four, it is unlikely there will be a place for Rojo next season and it is a sensible decision to move him on.

Finally, United have once again been linked with Mexican attacking midfielder Hirving Lozano, but the Pachua forward insists that no deal has been made. The 20-year-old’s father in law had claimed that the deal was almost complete, but it appears that the transfer is still some way off if it is going to happen.

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Lozano scored 12 goals in 40 games for Pachua last season, and was part of Mexico’s Copa America squad this summer, assisting one goal in a win over Jamaica. It is sometimes a risk to buy from North America, but it worked for United once before with the signing of Javier Hernandez from Guadalajara, and Lozano is a promising player. One to watch over the next few weeks.

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