Manchester United are eager for Paul Pogba to sign a new long-term contract urgently but the midfielder is apparently in no rush to commit as he’s well aware that there are various keen suitors, PSG being chief among them, monitoring his status and who would gladly make a move for him in the next transfer window when he’s able to walk out as a free agent.
The World Cup winner started the season in brilliant form, providing four assists in United’s crushing 5-1 win over Leeds on Saturday. But the French midfielder heads into the season with his future still hazy, as his contract expires at the end of the season.
United’s top brass are eager for Pogba to sign a new deal as soon as possible which would run for a minimum of four extra years and entice the midfielder to stay with a significant increase on his £290,000-a-week contract, which could be in large part due ot the news circulating that PSG are dangling a huge carrot with an offer of a £550,000-a-week contract if he were to join them next season on a free transfer.
United are of course hoping to protect the player’s market value, as they face losing him for zilch next summer after a heavy £89million outlay to sign him in 2016, which would be the second time he has walked away from Old Trafford if it really happens, having joined Juventus in 2012 at the expiry of his contract.
However, Pogba is said to be biding his time as he decides his next move, refusing to be rushed into the decision and it is almost certain that Pogba will not sign any new United deal before the August 31 transfer deadline. Alternatively, United could sell him to a European rival this month in what could be a cut-price deal.
Sportsmail has the understanding that the 28-year-old is not ruling out eventually signing a new deal at Old Trafford as the player is also said to be optimistic about the direction in which the club are headed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the long-awaited arrivals of France international team-mate Raphael Varane and England star Jadon Sancho have already begun to add an air of excitement for the new season.
Regardless of the new optimism, World Cup-winner Pogba is understood to have first indicated his willingness to sign fresh terms with the club last season although on their part United have only recently stepped up their attempts to extend his contract.
The midfielder is now keen to assess out the lay of the land, so to speak, before committing to his next move — which is likely to be his final big bonanza.
PSG, after their major budget-busting move for the incomparable Lionel Messi, appear to be very interested in Pogba next summer if he is available on a free transfer — as will a host of Europe’s other elite clubs.
If Pogba does not extend his deal at United by the turn of the year, he can start discussing potential free-transfer moves from January onwards. It’s again United that have to wait upon the French midfielder as he continues to play again one of his many waiting games.