Bastian Schweinsteiger has been earmarked as one of a number of Manchester United players set to depart the club this summer, per Duncan Castles of the Daily Record (h/t Goal).

Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Juan Mata are all rumoured to be leaving Old Trafford for pastures new following the appointment of hard-nosed Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho. 

The eccentric former Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss has cast a scathing eye over his United squad after taking over from the sacked Louis van Gaal and has ideas in place for which players are set for game time ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. 

The radical rebuild at the Theatre of Dreams is being carried out in order for Mourinho‘s troops to improve upon last season’s fifth-place finish in the Premier League. After a disappointing first season in England, the former Bayern Munich midfielder is set to head for the exit, per Castles. 

His cut-price €9 million arrival raised suspicions over the fitness and conditioning of the Germany international, with Schweinsteiger making just 18 league appearances last term, per WhoScored.com.

Per Goal, Mourinho is eager to reduce his new club’s squad size to 20, preferring condensed options. 

Sports journalist Liam Canning feels it will be a disappointing decision for the new coach to remove the 31-year-old from his playing squad:

One player who could be moving in the opposing direction is former Red Devil Paul Pogba, per Anthony Jepson of the Manchester Evening News.

The Juventus playmaker has been linked with a return to his former club, with United prepared to offer £100 million for his services, according to David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror. However, his Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri has played down talks, insisting the club have no intention of selling the France international. Per Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Jepson), he said:

I am calm about the English rumours. Anyone who has the opportunity to leave Juventus has to consider things very carefully, because right now Juve are among the top four European clubs. 

This is not a selling club that just lets its players go. Pogba belongs to Juve and at the end of the day he too will want to win another Scudetto and hopefully the Champions League.

We have grown in terms of appeal and awareness of our own capabilities. So far our market this summer has been eight out of 10, bringing in players of international pedigree like Medhi Benatia, Dani Alves and Miralem Pjanic.

The influential midfielder, 23, was let go by legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2012 after making just three Premier League appearances, per WhoScored.com. The opportunity has now arisen for Pogba to return to the club where he failed to make the grade after four successful seasons in Serie A. 

The creative talent has lifted four Scudetto trophies and two Coppa Italia titles during his time in Turin and continues to attract the attention of elite clubs across Europe for his sublime dribbling, range of passing and goalscoring ability.

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Bastian Schweinsteiger has been earmarked as one of a number of Manchester United players set to depart the club this summer, per Duncan Castles of the Daily Record (h/t Goal).

Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Juan Mata are all rumoured to be leaving Old Trafford for pastures new following the appointment of hard-nosed Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho. 

The eccentric former Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss has cast a scathing eye over his United squad after taking over from the sacked Louis van Gaal and has ideas in place for which players are set for game time ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. 

The radical rebuild at the Theatre of Dreams is being carried out in order for Mourinho‘s troops to improve upon last season’s fifth-place finish in the Premier League. After a disappointing first season in England, the former Bayern Munich midfielder is set to head for the exit, per Castles. 

His cut-price €9 million arrival raised suspicions over the fitness and conditioning of the Germany international, with Schweinsteiger making just 18 league appearances last term, per WhoScored.com.

Per Goal, Mourinho is eager to reduce his new club’s squad size to 20, preferring condensed options. 

Sports journalist Liam Canning feels it will be a disappointing decision for the new coach to remove the 31-year-old from his playing squad:

One player who could be moving in the opposing direction is former Red Devil Paul Pogba, per Anthony Jepson of the Manchester Evening News.

The Juventus playmaker has been linked with a return to his former club, with United prepared to offer £100 million for his services, according to David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror. However, his Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri has played down talks, insisting the club have no intention of selling the France international. Per Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Jepson), he said:

I am calm about the English rumours. Anyone who has the opportunity to leave Juventus has to consider things very carefully, because right now Juve are among the top four European clubs. 

This is not a selling club that just lets its players go. Pogba belongs to Juve and at the end of the day he too will want to win another Scudetto and hopefully the Champions League.

We have grown in terms of appeal and awareness of our own capabilities. So far our market this summer has been eight out of 10, bringing in players of international pedigree like Medhi Benatia, Dani Alves and Miralem Pjanic.

The influential midfielder, 23, was let go by legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2012 after making just three Premier League appearances, per WhoScored.com. The opportunity has now arisen for Pogba to return to the club where he failed to make the grade after four successful seasons in Serie A. 

The creative talent has lifted four Scudetto trophies and two Coppa Italia titles during his time in Turin and continues to attract the attention of elite clubs across Europe for his sublime dribbling, range of passing and goalscoring ability.

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Napoli‘s head of communications, Nicola Lombardo, has played down speculation over the future of star forward Gonzalo Higuain after strong links to Juventus and Arsenal.

“Gonzalo never said he wanted to leave,” Lombardo said at a question-and-answer session with supporters at the club’s training base, per Chris Myson of Goal. “Juve have never asked for him and [president] Aurelio De Laurentiis does not want to sell him. … But he will be here in Dimaro to start pre-season on July 25.”

As noted by Myson, Higuain has been the subject of a lot of speculation, with the Gunners said to be keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

It was suggested by the Partenopei’s official radio station, Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, on Saturday that Arsenal were poised to land the striker for €50 million (£42 million) plus Olivier Giroud, per ITASportPress (h/t Sport Witness).

Higuain is considered among the best strikers in world football following a brilliant 2015-16 campaign with Napoli. He netted a Serie A-record 36 goals for the Partenopei last season. Here they are:

Per Myson, Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the Argentina international, whose goals helped Napoli challenge the Bianconeri for the Serie A title for significant spells of the previous campaign. That deal would further cement Juve’s status as the major force in Italian football if it were to come off.

The team would also benefit massively from the 28-year-old too. Manager Arsene Wenger has long been without an elite striker, and Gunners supporters would be concerned if Arsenal begin the campaign with Giroud as their first choice in the position.

Higuain would excite the Emirates Stadium crowd despite his reputation as a player who falters in big games. Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t see that particular stigma as too much of a problem:

Player-plus-cash transfers are rare in modern-day football. As such, it’d be a massive surprise if Arsenal were to strike that kind of aforementioned transfer. Napoli seem keen to keep hold of their prized asset, but if they were to move him on, they’d surely prefer to see the player head abroad.

Arsenal Linked with Marcelo Brozovic

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star Sunday), Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.

The Croatia international recently joined the Serie A side on a permanent deal following on from an 18-month loan spell. However, it’s suggested in the piece the Nerazzurri want to make space for the signing of Axel Witsel and are ready to move Brozovic on for a fee of £21 million.

Brozovic has impressed during his time in Italy, adding a box-to-box presence to this Inter side. Here is a look at the kind of attributes he possesses:

It’s easy to see Wenger admiring a player like Brozovic. The 23-year-old is multifaceted in the way he plays the game, and he carries out whichever role he performs with a high level of technical proficiency. Brozovic can operate as a withdrawn midfielder, push forward and even cut in from positions on the flanks.

With players such as Geoffrey Kondogbia, Gary Medel and Felipe Melo, Inter have plenty of defensive-minded midfielders in their ranks already. Brozovic is one of a few Nerazzurri players who can provide a spark going forward; if they are willing to lose that trait, it could be to Arsenal’s benefit as they look to restructure their own midfield.

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Napoli‘s head of communications, Nicola Lombardo, has played down speculation over the future of star forward Gonzalo Higuain after strong links to Juventus and Arsenal.

“Gonzalo never said he wanted to leave,” Lombardo said at a question-and-answer session with supporters at the club’s training base, per Chris Myson of Goal. “Juve have never asked for him and [president] Aurelio De Laurentiis does not want to sell him. … But he will be here in Dimaro to start pre-season on July 25.”

As noted by Myson, Higuain has been the subject of a lot of speculation, with the Gunners said to be keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

It was suggested by the Partenopei’s official radio station, Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, on Saturday that Arsenal were poised to land the striker for €50 million (£42 million) plus Olivier Giroud, per ITASportPress (h/t Sport Witness).

Higuain is considered among the best strikers in world football following a brilliant 2015-16 campaign with Napoli. He netted a Serie A-record 36 goals for the Partenopei last season. Here they are:

Per Myson, Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the Argentina international, whose goals helped Napoli challenge the Bianconeri for the Serie A title for significant spells of the previous campaign. That deal would further cement Juve’s status as the major force in Italian football if it were to come off.

The team would also benefit massively from the 28-year-old too. Manager Arsene Wenger has long been without an elite striker, and Gunners supporters would be concerned if Arsenal begin the campaign with Giroud as their first choice in the position.

Higuain would excite the Emirates Stadium crowd despite his reputation as a player who falters in big games. Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t see that particular stigma as too much of a problem:

Player-plus-cash transfers are rare in modern-day football. As such, it’d be a massive surprise if Arsenal were to strike that kind of aforementioned transfer. Napoli seem keen to keep hold of their prized asset, but if they were to move him on, they’d surely prefer to see the player head abroad.

Arsenal Linked with Marcelo Brozovic

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star Sunday), Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.

The Croatia international recently joined the Serie A side on a permanent deal following on from an 18-month loan spell. However, it’s suggested in the piece the Nerazzurri want to make space for the signing of Axel Witsel and are ready to move Brozovic on for a fee of £21 million.

Brozovic has impressed during his time in Italy, adding a box-to-box presence to this Inter side. Here is a look at the kind of attributes he possesses:

It’s easy to see Wenger admiring a player like Brozovic. The 23-year-old is multifaceted in the way he plays the game, and he carries out whichever role he performs with a high level of technical proficiency. Brozovic can operate as a withdrawn midfielder, push forward and even cut in from positions on the flanks.

With players such as Geoffrey Kondogbia, Gary Medel and Felipe Melo, Inter have plenty of defensive-minded midfielders in their ranks already. Brozovic is one of a few Nerazzurri players who can provide a spark going forward; if they are willing to lose that trait, it could be to Arsenal’s benefit as they look to restructure their own midfield.

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Napoli‘s head of communications, Nicola Lombardo, has played down speculation over the future of star forward Gonzalo Higuain after strong links to Juventus and Arsenal.

“Gonzalo never said he wanted to leave,” Lombardo said at a question-and-answer session with supporters at the club’s training base, per Chris Myson of Goal. “Juve have never asked for him and [president] Aurelio De Laurentiis does not want to sell him. … But he will be here in Dimaro to start pre-season on July 25.”

As noted by Myson, Higuain has been the subject of a lot of speculation, with the Gunners said to be keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

It was suggested by the Partenopei’s official radio station, Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, on Saturday that Arsenal were poised to land the striker for €50 million (£42 million) plus Olivier Giroud, per ITASportPress (h/t Sport Witness).

Higuain is considered among the best strikers in world football following a brilliant 2015-16 campaign with Napoli. He netted a Serie A-record 36 goals for the Partenopei last season. Here they are:

Per Myson, Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the Argentina international, whose goals helped Napoli challenge the Bianconeri for the Serie A title for significant spells of the previous campaign. That deal would further cement Juve’s status as the major force in Italian football if it were to come off.

The team would also benefit massively from the 28-year-old too. Manager Arsene Wenger has long been without an elite striker, and Gunners supporters would be concerned if Arsenal begin the campaign with Giroud as their first choice in the position.

Higuain would excite the Emirates Stadium crowd despite his reputation as a player who falters in big games. Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t see that particular stigma as too much of a problem:

Player-plus-cash transfers are rare in modern-day football. As such, it’d be a massive surprise if Arsenal were to strike that kind of aforementioned transfer. Napoli seem keen to keep hold of their prized asset, but if they were to move him on, they’d surely prefer to see the player head abroad.

Arsenal Linked with Marcelo Brozovic

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star Sunday), Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.

The Croatia international recently joined the Serie A side on a permanent deal following on from an 18-month loan spell. However, it’s suggested in the piece the Nerazzurri want to make space for the signing of Axel Witsel and are ready to move Brozovic on for a fee of £21 million.

Brozovic has impressed during his time in Italy, adding a box-to-box presence to this Inter side. Here is a look at the kind of attributes he possesses:

It’s easy to see Wenger admiring a player like Brozovic. The 23-year-old is multifaceted in the way he plays the game, and he carries out whichever role he performs with a high level of technical proficiency. Brozovic can operate as a withdrawn midfielder, push forward and even cut in from positions on the flanks.

With players such as Geoffrey Kondogbia, Gary Medel and Felipe Melo, Inter have plenty of defensive-minded midfielders in their ranks already. Brozovic is one of a few Nerazzurri players who can provide a spark going forward; if they are willing to lose that trait, it could be to Arsenal’s benefit as they look to restructure their own midfield.

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Napoli‘s head of communications, Nicola Lombardo, has played down speculation over the future of star forward Gonzalo Higuain after strong links to Juventus and Arsenal.

“Gonzalo never said he wanted to leave,” Lombardo said at a question-and-answer session with supporters at the club’s training base, per Chris Myson of Goal. “Juve have never asked for him and [president] Aurelio De Laurentiis does not want to sell him. … But he will be here in Dimaro to start pre-season on July 25.”

As noted by Myson, Higuain has been the subject of a lot of speculation, with the Gunners said to be keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

It was suggested by the Partenopei’s official radio station, Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, on Saturday that Arsenal were poised to land the striker for €50 million (£42 million) plus Olivier Giroud, per ITASportPress (h/t Sport Witness).

Higuain is considered among the best strikers in world football following a brilliant 2015-16 campaign with Napoli. He netted a Serie A-record 36 goals for the Partenopei last season. Here they are:

Per Myson, Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the Argentina international, whose goals helped Napoli challenge the Bianconeri for the Serie A title for significant spells of the previous campaign. That deal would further cement Juve’s status as the major force in Italian football if it were to come off.

The team would also benefit massively from the 28-year-old too. Manager Arsene Wenger has long been without an elite striker, and Gunners supporters would be concerned if Arsenal begin the campaign with Giroud as their first choice in the position.

Higuain would excite the Emirates Stadium crowd despite his reputation as a player who falters in big games. Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t see that particular stigma as too much of a problem:

Player-plus-cash transfers are rare in modern-day football. As such, it’d be a massive surprise if Arsenal were to strike that kind of aforementioned transfer. Napoli seem keen to keep hold of their prized asset, but if they were to move him on, they’d surely prefer to see the player head abroad.

Arsenal Linked with Marcelo Brozovic

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star Sunday), Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.

The Croatia international recently joined the Serie A side on a permanent deal following on from an 18-month loan spell. However, it’s suggested in the piece the Nerazzurri want to make space for the signing of Axel Witsel and are ready to move Brozovic on for a fee of £21 million.

Brozovic has impressed during his time in Italy, adding a box-to-box presence to this Inter side. Here is a look at the kind of attributes he possesses:

It’s easy to see Wenger admiring a player like Brozovic. The 23-year-old is multifaceted in the way he plays the game, and he carries out whichever role he performs with a high level of technical proficiency. Brozovic can operate as a withdrawn midfielder, push forward and even cut in from positions on the flanks.

With players such as Geoffrey Kondogbia, Gary Medel and Felipe Melo, Inter have plenty of defensive-minded midfielders in their ranks already. Brozovic is one of a few Nerazzurri players who can provide a spark going forward; if they are willing to lose that trait, it could be to Arsenal’s benefit as they look to restructure their own midfield.

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Napoli‘s head of communications, Nicola Lombardo, has played down speculation over the future of star forward Gonzalo Higuain after strong links to Juventus and Arsenal.

“Gonzalo never said he wanted to leave,” Lombardo said at a question-and-answer session with supporters at the club’s training base, per Chris Myson of Goal. “Juve have never asked for him and [president] Aurelio De Laurentiis does not want to sell him. … But he will be here in Dimaro to start pre-season on July 25.”

As noted by Myson, Higuain has been the subject of a lot of speculation, with the Gunners said to be keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

It was suggested by the Partenopei’s official radio station, Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, on Saturday that Arsenal were poised to land the striker for €50 million (£42 million) plus Olivier Giroud, per ITASportPress (h/t Sport Witness).

Higuain is considered among the best strikers in world football following a brilliant 2015-16 campaign with Napoli. He netted a Serie A-record 36 goals for the Partenopei last season. Here they are:

Per Myson, Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the Argentina international, whose goals helped Napoli challenge the Bianconeri for the Serie A title for significant spells of the previous campaign. That deal would further cement Juve’s status as the major force in Italian football if it were to come off.

The team would also benefit massively from the 28-year-old too. Manager Arsene Wenger has long been without an elite striker, and Gunners supporters would be concerned if Arsenal begin the campaign with Giroud as their first choice in the position.

Higuain would excite the Emirates Stadium crowd despite his reputation as a player who falters in big games. Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t see that particular stigma as too much of a problem:

Player-plus-cash transfers are rare in modern-day football. As such, it’d be a massive surprise if Arsenal were to strike that kind of aforementioned transfer. Napoli seem keen to keep hold of their prized asset, but if they were to move him on, they’d surely prefer to see the player head abroad.

Arsenal Linked with Marcelo Brozovic

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star Sunday), Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.

The Croatia international recently joined the Serie A side on a permanent deal following on from an 18-month loan spell. However, it’s suggested in the piece the Nerazzurri want to make space for the signing of Axel Witsel and are ready to move Brozovic on for a fee of £21 million.

Brozovic has impressed during his time in Italy, adding a box-to-box presence to this Inter side. Here is a look at the kind of attributes he possesses:

It’s easy to see Wenger admiring a player like Brozovic. The 23-year-old is multifaceted in the way he plays the game, and he carries out whichever role he performs with a high level of technical proficiency. Brozovic can operate as a withdrawn midfielder, push forward and even cut in from positions on the flanks.

With players such as Geoffrey Kondogbia, Gary Medel and Felipe Melo, Inter have plenty of defensive-minded midfielders in their ranks already. Brozovic is one of a few Nerazzurri players who can provide a spark going forward; if they are willing to lose that trait, it could be to Arsenal’s benefit as they look to restructure their own midfield.

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It is almost as if Jose Mourinho has watched and learned from the painfully obvious mistakes his two predecessors at Old Trafford made in the transfer market.

In the summer of 2013, David Moyes, simply grateful to have been given the job, allowed the club to drift through the summer months without purchasing a single player, until he managed to grab Marouane Felliani from Everton on the last day of the transfer window for £4 million more than his expired release clause.

That entire summer was a farce for United, and Moyes never recovered. His failure to add to his squad one of the main reasons his six-year contract lasted less than 10 months.

Moyes was replaced by Louis van Gaal, but preoccupied by guiding the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-final in Brazil, the Dutchman repeated the same mistakes, and though he managed to sign more players, he failed to do it early enough.

On the opening day of the 2014-15 Premier League season United began the Van Gaal era with just one new signing, Ander Herrera, in their starting 11, and they suffered the embarrassment of a first home league defeat to Swansea City for 83 years.

Van Gaal panicked and spent the final weeks of the transfer window rushing around adding unsuitable players, including the expensive arrival of Radamel Falcao from Monaco on deadline day itself.

United, naturally, took time to gel as a team and had to endure an ultimately disappointing season in which they finished fourth.

Obviously a sucker for punishment, Van Gaal once again failed to complete his squad before the start of his second season, and having already shed several attacking players, found himself scrambling to sign Anthony Martial on the final day of the transfer window.

Even the expected sale of David De Gea, which would collapse, was left until the final day, spreading confusion throughout Old Trafford during the opening weeks of the season.

It meant that once again a disjointed United side made a slow start to the season, which they never managed to shake off and would stumble to a fifth-placed finish that cost Van Gaal his job.

This season under Mourinho Manchester United want to have a quiet deadline day.

There will be no more panicked buys and rushing against the clock to have late bids accepted. 

Having observed the self-harm and naivety of his predecessors, Mourinho instead wants a settled squad ready for the new season in the middle of August. 

On the first day of pre-season training United had already completed the signings of three new players.

According to numerous reports, including the BBC, United are also pursuing Paul Pogba, but this is being done early, so it won’t disrupt the start of their season.

As he remoulds his squad Mourinho is replacing confusion with certainty and authority.

The signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and possibly Paul Pogba, to aid Marcus Rashford and Martial, should instantly solve United’s chronic lack of goals from last season.

But while Mourinho has made United’s attack fit for purpose again, he cannot afford to rest easy, for there is still much work to be done on his defence.

At the moment, United boast a title-winning attack, but an inexperienced and possibly vulnerable back four.

Of course, Mourinho has invested £30 million in the potential of new central defender Eric Bailly, but when he was asked if his new signing was ready for the Premier League, the Portuguese admitted, “I don’t know,” as reported by the Daily Mirror

Bailly appears to be a fine signing, young and muscular, but the type of player who should be eased in gradually alongside more experienced team-mates.

But here is the problem, United don’t currently have enough of them in defence.

United’s strongest-looking defence would consist of Matteo Darmian, who struggled in his first season in England, or Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who has played only eight first-team games, at right-back; Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly in central defence, and at left-back, Luke Shaw, still only 21 and just returning after 10 months out with a broken leg.

It has the look of a brilliant defence in two years’ time, but not now.

There should be some concern that Chris Smalling, who is still teetering on the divide between becoming a dependable defender and being a risk who hasn’t fulfilled his potential, is by some distance the club’s most experienced defender.

Smalling, still only 26 himself, would benefit from playing alongside a more experienced and wily defender, and being the junior member of a partnership, and not, which he is at the moment, the senior partner for Bailly to learn from.

Mourinho needs to return to the transfer market for another central defender, for while Bailly is the future, he needs someone for now.

The simple truth is United are still looking to replace Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand two years after the duo left Old Trafford. 

Over the course of his career, the Portuguese has built his success on having savvy, dominant and, crucially, experienced, defenders at the heart of his back fours. 

At Porto, it was Jorge Costa and Ricardo Carvalho, in his first spell at Chelsea John Terry and Carvalho again, at Inter Milan Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel, and at Real Madrid, the brilliance of Pepe and Sergio Ramos.

When Mourinho returned to Chelsea and guided them to the Premier League title in 2015, Terry, who turned 34 that season, played every game, and he even came close to winning the Footballer of the Year award. 

After securing so many trophies with these defenders, it seems unlikely Mourinho would now launch his comeback in management protected by United’s current collection of young and largely untested defenders.

The new United manager has been bold and brilliant in the transfer market so far, but he still needs to add more experience to his defence if he wants to bring the title to Old Trafford. 

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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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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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