Reports suggest Paul Pogba of Juventus will complete a £105 million world-record transfer to Manchester United “this weekend,” signing a five-year deal to join Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.

Phil Cadden of the Sun reported the France international midfielder will put pen to paper on a Red Devils contract, earning him £202,000 per week to return to the “Theatre of Dreams” after departing in 2012.

Cadden claimed negotiations between United and Pogba agent Mino Raiola will be concluded over the weekend as the self-proclaimed “Special One” secures his fourth signing since the start of his tenure in the northwest. The world-class talent is currently finishing a holiday in the United States and will sign the world-record deal when he returns.

Cadden wrote: 

Raiola has spent the last few days in talks with United chiefs over the France international’s  personal terms — for a transfer which will eclipse the £86 million Real Madrid paid for Gareth Bale in 2013.

Pogba could now travel to Manchester as soon as Tuesday to have his medical.

Negotiations have been complicated by the fact that Raiola has a deal with Juve which will see him collect a staggering 25 per cent of the transfer fee.

Here is a video of the player in action:

The player was asked about the rumours linking him with a switch to United during his recent stay in Los Angeles, and Pogba refused to deny he would leave Juve for his first professional club.

When asked how he would react if Mourinho called him to instigate a transfer, the Frenchman told ESPN in America (h/t Sachin Nakrani of the Guardian): “I don’t know. Let’s see, let’s see. For the moment, I am here [Juventus], and I am happy here, but I don’t know where I want to go.”

Nakrani wrote the Old Lady value Pogba at £84 million, but Cadden believes the final fee will eclipse the world-record for Bale. Juve are believed to want to retain Pogba next term, but United will aggressively back Mourinho in the transfer market in the coming weeks.

Pogba was lined up to be a superstar at United when he was a teenager, but Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t give the prodigious player his big break, forcing him to abscond to Italy. The 23-year-old won his fourth Serie A title in a row last season, featuring 35 times in the top Italian division and scoring eight goals, according to WhoScored.com.

Mourinho has already had an impact on his new players at Carrington during pre-season training, as Michael Carrick told MUTV (h/t Michael Kelleher of Sky Sports):

There’s been a lot of football and fun at the right times, and I think everyone’s enjoying it. When you get a new manager, pre-season is always a little bit different because it’s a new personality and new ways. But you approach the season as any other and you’ve got to prepare yourself to be ready for the battle.

The capture of Pogba will take United to the next level, and with a happy set of players under Mourinho, the Red Devils will once again be title contenders.

The midfielder would provide United with the engine they desperately need in the centre of the park and provide the manager with the powerful individual he prefers at the core of all his sides, as previously seen at Real, Inter Milan and Chelsea.   

United fans will be cautious to celebrate Pogba’s capture before the club officially unveils him, but his signing will be a statement of intent as the club do their utmost to challenge on all fronts and competitions.

Mourinho will want to be in the UEFA Champions League in 12 months time, and the quickest way to achieve the goal is to pay a huge price for the best talent available. 

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