Manchester United have told Real Madrid that they’ll have to stump up £179m if they wish to sign Paul Pogba.
The Daily Mirror reports that the Red Devils “won’t indulge in any business with the Madrid giants in the new year unless their valuation of £179m is met”.
Taking its cue from Catalan newspaper Sport, which claims that the Spanish outfit are still keen on signing the French World Cup winner, the Mirror predicts that the two clubs will agree terms next year.
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With Pogba having mooted the idea of a clean break from Old Trafford, speculation is mounting in Spain that a deal will be agreed as early as January.
New year sales
The Daily Express says that Real will try to sign the 26-year-old when the transfer window reopens this winter, but there could yet be a twist in the tale.
Apparently Zinedine Zidane is losing the faith of club president Florentino Perez after Real’s sluggish start to the season - which has them lying fifth in La Liga after three matches - and the French head coach could be ousted before the new year if he doesn’t turn around Real’s fortunes between now and then.
Mathias speaks out
Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News reports that Mathias Pogba has been speaking on behalf of his brother once more, this time during an appearance on El Chringuito TV.
Denying claims that his sibling had discussed his plans with Real defender Sergio Ramos, Mathias declared that Paul “has spoken with Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic about his future”.
Furthermore the midfielder has also allegedly been in touch with Zidane - his childhood hero - adding to the belief that Pogba wants to head to the Spanish capital.
New deals for Lindelof and Lingard
TalkSPORT is one of several outlets to report that United are determined to tie defender Victor Lindelof and midfielder Jesse Lingard to the club.
The broadcaster claims that United are “working on new deals” for the pair with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen to secure the long-term futures of a number of players he considers essential to his rebuilding programme. TalkSPORT says the deals are likely to run until 2024.
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