Should Man Utd cash in on Paul Pogba as Real Madrid prepare summer bid? Big debate

Manchester United need to sort Paul Pogba’s future out as he prepares to return from his summer break for pre-season.

Pogba has been in New York this week rather than back at Carrington with the other first team players.

And last month he even admitted it could be time to move on with Real Madrid considering a summer move under Zinedine Zidane.

So what should United do? Stay firm and keep a possibly unhappy player, or sell up and reinvest on players who want to be there? Our experts have their say.

Neil Squires, Daily Express Chief Sports Reporter

The scale of the problems at Manchester United indicate that selling a player who forced his way into the PFA Premier League team of the year would be an act of self-harm but if Paul Pogba wants to go they would be best cashing in.

If he bought fully into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s vision then he could have been the man around whom the new Manchester United could be built but his own words suggest that ship has sailed.

That is a crying shame. For all the criticism he took last season his statistics were a match for anyone. He scored goals, he delivered assists and his defensive interventions added up too.

The sense remained that with such a talent that output could have been greater but if his heart is set on leaving Old Trafford Pogba’s productivity is only going to head in the other direction.

Led weights drag a club down particularly high-profile, lavishly-paid ones.

It would be best for both parties to say their farewells.

Tony Banks, Daily Express Football Correspondent

United should sell.

Pogba does not want to be at Old Trafford any more, there are willing buyers out there - Real Madrid in particular - and they should use the cash to rebuild.

If ever a team needed a fresh start and a new model it is this United side.

I am not sure importing Gareth Bale as part of a swap deal involving Pogba would be a good idea though. That would be simply importing one big name for another.

Better to bring in younger, hungry players who will give this sagging United side a new impetus.

If they do not sell, United will start the season with Pogba's future hanging over them again, which will not be good for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dressing room, some of whom already want the Frenchman out.

It would also be a statement of strength from Solskjaer. He wants to rebuild a young, hungry United in his own mould. Because the old one he inherited is clearly not working.

Gideon Brooks, Daily Express Football Correspondent

It is stating the obvious that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has his work cut out turning Manchester United around this season.

But if Paul Pogba is in the dressing room for the first game against Chelsea in August he has next to no chance of succeeding.

Even by his own standards, Pogba has excelled himself this summer managing to disrupt their season five weeks before it has even started.

The trouble with Pogba is that it is all too rare that he excels himself where it matters – on the pitch.

It is some trick for a footballer to get to 26 and still be labelled an unfulfilled talent but it is one which Pogba continues to perform with great skill.

Take away Twitter and Instagram, forget about online hits and traffic, and ignore shirt sales, Paul Pogba is a better than average midfielder and no more.

United did not have a great season last year changing managers halfway through a campaign and limping home in sixth.

Not all of that was down to Pogba.

But on all metrics bar one – shots taken – he failed to elevate himself beyond the pack of midfielders to a standout performer.

On assists Ryan Fraser and Christian Eriksen were better, on passes and touches Jorginho and Granit Xhaka were better and on tackles he was nowhere to be seen.

He scored 13 goals, the same as Gylfi Sigurdsson and one more than Luka Milivojevic.

Just about the only area where he is undoubtedly world class is in his poisonous effect on a dressing room. Ed Woodward should remember he finished it clashing with supporters over his effort levels after a home match against Cardiff.

His supporters point to the fact he has won a World Cup with France as evidence of his world class talent. But Mesut Ozil won one with Germany and he has hardly been a game changer for Arsenal either in recent years.

Solskjaer needs the culture to change at United and he will not be able to wield a new broom if Pogba is forced to stay, sulking in the corner. Indeed it could be catastrophic for the Norwegian if he does.

Get rid, even if it means taking a financial hit to do so.

Matthew Dunn, Daily Express Football Correspondent

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was brought in to return Manchester United to its former values then he needs to act like Sir Alex Ferguson and bring Paul Pogba into line.

No player was ever bigger than the club while Fergie was around and while David Beckham might have been granted a dream move to the Bernabeu, Pogba should not.

The difference is that Beckham was expendable. His era at the club was ending and already the canny United boss was building a new generation that would win three back-to-back titles and the Champions League.

Those days seem so long ago and Old Trafford is no longer blessed with such an array of world class talent that they can afford to let it leave. United need players like Pogba.

To butcher Oscar Wilde, to lose Paul Pogba once may be regarded as misfortune, to lose him twice looks like carelessness.

Solskjaer’s job is to make him care again.

Matt Lawless, Head of Digital Sport

With Juventus signing Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot this week, that return route appears to be unlikely.

We know Real Madrid are interested but they have already spent big this summer - and they'd need to move soon if they really are serious.

PSG may be another big-money possibility. But I'd like to see Paul Pogba stay at Old Trafford for one more season.

If not at Manchester United, I would love to see him play for another Premier League club. Why? The France World Cup winner is pure box office.

On his day, he is arguably one of the best players in the world - and that's what I want to see week-in, week-out.

Luke Gardener, Online editorial

Quite simply put, Paul Pogba is more trouble than he’s worth.

His attitude at Manchester United over the last year has been atrocious with ill-advised comments about his future being made on several occasions.

His inconsistent performances mean United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should cut his losses.

With Real Madrid ready to make a big offer for Pogba this summer United should cash-in and reinvest the money into someone who won’t cause disruption in the dressing room.

There is a high probability Pogba will impress at the Bernabeu but there’s no guarantee he will find consistency at Old Trafford.

Selling Pogba would act as a fresh start for the club and provide renewed optimism from United fans that the players will not rule the club.

Solskjaer would then have extra money to spend and make a real mark in the transfer market on top of the young, British players the Red Devils are bringing in such as Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Pogba has to go and now.

James Benson, Online assistant sport news editor

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ought to take another leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s book and offload Paul Pogba for the good of the club.

The French World Cup winner has ability in spades, but all too frequently has only showed his class when he’s felt like it.

His comments about making a fresh start showed contempt for a team of United’s stature, something Ferguson would not have stood for.

Pogba’s failure to live up to his £89m price tag is not all his fault, though he should shoulder most of the blame.

If Real Madrid, or another suitor, are prepared to pay upwards of £100m for the midfielder, it’s time to wave goodbye to him this summer.

United have already exhibited a change in transfer strategy by targeting young, hungry players and getting rid of Pogba would free up cash to bring in some more.

Matt Atherton, Online sports reporter

I think United should do everything in their power to make sure Paul Pogba isn't at the club for the first day of the season.

His value has gone down since his arrival at United, and it'll only go down further if he chooses not to give 100 per cent in any more matches.

Solskjaer should cash in, and reinvest that money in two new centre-backs - they're in desperate need of them.

Josh Peck, Online sports reporter

With rumours suggesting United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not have as much in his transfer budget as he would like, cashing on Paul Pogba appears to be the sensible option.

Another £150m will do wonders for the Norwegian as he looks to strengthen his squad.

We all know Pogba has the ability to be one of the Premier League’s best players.

But he hasn’t shown that consistently in the three years he has been back at Old Trafford and Solskjaer could get two game-changers in for the amount the Frenchman would depart.

Ben Pringle, Online sports reporter

Paul Pogba is a constant source of frustration for Manchester United fans, but the club cannot afford to let him go this summer.

The departure of Ander Herrera has left the Red Devils light in midfield while Nemanja Matic’s declining form has given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a selection headache.

Fred is no closer to justifying his £52million price tag and 22-year-old Scott McTominay appears the only guaranteed pick in the engine room with no new recruits signed.

Therefore, Pogba will remain an indispensable cog in the United wheel if they continue to play a three-man midfield – despite his apparent desire to leave for pastures new.

The World Cup winner has the potential to be one of the best performers in the Premier League but maintaining consistency in a side undergoing a period of transition has been difficult, harming both his reputation and his price tag.

On his day, Pogba is a supremely talented footballer and United should do all they can to keep the Frenchman happy – even if it just delays the inevitable for another year until Champions League football is secured once more and high-calibre, lower-maintenance reinforcements can be brought in.

Lewis Winter, Online sports reporter

Manchester United just need to say goodbye and good riddance to Paul Pogba.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looking to rebuild his squad, the last thing they need is the baggage the Frenchman brings.

Pogba clearly wants to leave and the money they can bring in for him can be reinvested on players who want to play for United.

Returning to Juventus makes no sense due to the battery of midfield players the Old Lady possess.

Zinedine Zidane wants Pogba at Real Madrid and that could be the ideal destination for the 26-year-old to show what he can do.

United, meanwhile, should use some of the money they recoup for Pogba by launching a raid on Leicester for the impressive James Maddison.

Adam Skinner, Online sports reporter

Selling Pogba is an absolute no-brainer for me.

While I don't agree with the criticism of his attitude and I believe he is a truly top-class player, Pogba might actually hinder the style that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to install at Old Trafford.

We're told his tactics will rely heavily on pace on the counter and Pogba often slows the game down by taking too many touches.

If he moves to Real Madrid, he will be a superstar in La Liga where he will be afforded enough time to dictate play as he did to such devastating effect at Juventus.

Because of that, United will know how key he could be to Real and need to hold out for exactly what he is worth. In a market where Leicester want at least £80million for Harry Maguire - they should be looking to fetch £120m at the very least.

Ryan Taylor, Online sports reporter

There's no doubt in my mind about Paul Pogba's quality, but when a player begins to talk about wanting a new challenge, however good he maybe, it's time to let them move on.

Manchester United are only fooling themselves here, and they need to set a precedent that nobody is bigger than the club, just like the days under Sir Alex Ferguson. They will make significant profit from the club-record £89.3m fee they paid Juventus in 2016 and it will allow them to potentially buy up to three midfielders, including the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Sean Longstaff and potentially James Maddison or Christian Eriksen.

Pogba is a big character and there have been a number of suggestions that he has caused problems in the dressing room. Bad apples will harm United's operation because the road back is not necessarily going to be easy. There's a lot of ground to make up on Manchester City and Liverpool.

The one real issue with cutting their loses with the Frenchman is that he's a global star and it will be hard to replace his marketability. I don't think his departure would go down too well with Adidas either, which maybe a key factor behind why they're so desperate to keep him at Old Trafford.

Adam Powers, Online sports reporter

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been happy to try to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson since returning to Old Trafford, and he should certainly take a leaf out of his old mentor's book when it comes to Paul Pogba.

Ferguson would seldom let players inflate their esteem to the point they believed they were above the team or - God forbid - club, and that is what has happened to Pogba.

The Frenchman's talent is undoubted but his performances have been far too inconsistent since rejoining in 2016.

His comments in Tokyo - as well as the ones flirting with Real Madrid earlier this year - reflect that of a man who feels as if he can do better and is, therefore, not absolutely proud to wear the United shirt.

His market and, perhaps crucially, commercial value is huge, but his superstar over super-player status embodies what is currently wrong with United.

With undoubtedly more than £100m to be made from Pogba's sale, Solskjaer can purchase at least one central midfielder on the brink of their peak, which is hopefully a world-class level.

Manchester City and Liverpool have purchased in that manner so brilliantly in the last few years and, as much as United have to suck it up like a Dyson vacuum, must follow their model.

Konstantinos Lianos, Online sports reporter

Manchester United need to approach this situation with immense caution and act smart.

Paul Pogba claimed that it may be a good time to have a new challenge elsewhere, therefore if his heart is no longer on United then it would be best for him and the club if he left.

If it comes down to this, then the Red Devils need to make absolutely sure that they can get a better replacement and hold their ground regarding his asking price, they should use the fact that his contract runs out in 2021 to their advantage as they still have a lot of time.

But if the Frenchman wishes to stay at Old Trafford then Ole Gunnar Solskjær needs to find a way to make him a prominent figure in his starting line-up.

The midfielder’s quality is undeniable and he has what it takes to lead a top club like United to the top, just like he did for France.