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£600,000-a-week: money talks for Man Utd’s Paul Pogba - or does it?
Old Trafford source denies reports that the Frenchman wants his salary doubled
That’s according to the Daily Express, which says that the French midfielder “is looking to increase his wage to £600,000-a-week” amid interest from Real Madrid and former club Juventus.
The Week
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Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Currently on £290,000-a-week, Pogba believes he is worth a bit more and the Express says that Spanish publication Diario Madridista and Italy’s Tuttosport are reporting that the player’s agent Mino Raiola will “use talks to try and increase his salary”.
The Express says that United are “confident” the 26-year-old will remain at Old Trafford but that may depend on the outcome of the imminent contract negotiations between the club and Raiola.
According to the Daily Mail, a United source disputes these claims, telling the paper: “Paul still has two years left on his current deal with an option of an extra year so there’s been no talks about a new contract and nothing from Paul saying he wants an increase in wages… anyone that says he’s been asking for £600,000-a-week is wrong.”
Real move for Van de Beek
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United better hope that Pogba stays loyal to them because it appears they’ve lost out on Donny van de Beek.
The Daily Mirror says that Real Madrid “have moved into pole position” to sign the Ajax playmaker, who has been instrumental in restoring the glory days to the Amsterdam club in recent seasons.
United were tailing the 22-year-old Dutch ace in the summer but allegedly backed off when Ajax asked for £35m for his services.
The Mirror says United had also decided that “Pogba was staying at Old Trafford”, although that might not be the case if they don’t start salvaging their season.
As for Real, they are ready to fork out £100m to land Van de Beek as they also look to bring back the good times to the Bernabeu.
Newcastle gaffer Steve Bruce has told Sean Longstaff that his future is with the Magpies and not Man Utd, reports the Daily Star.
The 21-year-old was linked to Old Trafford in the summer with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly a fan of the Toon midfielder.
Longstaff stayed loyal to the Magpies but United are said to still be keen and a £50m bid is expected to be tabled in the new year.
But speaking on the eve of Sunday’s Premier League clash with United - which Newcastle won 1-0 with a goal from Matty Longstaff, Sean’s brother - Bruce shrugged of the transfer talk.
“I think Sean now needs to concentrate on his own performances, rather than worrying about speculation and tittle-tattle,” he said. “I don’t think there was any real legs in the Manchester United story.”
Dembele scouted
The Daily Mirror says that United scouts had the good fortune to miss Sunday’s dismal defeat to Newcastle because they were in France watching Lyon frontman Moussa Dembele in action against St Etienne last night.
Though the Old Trafford club has been linked to Callum Wilson and Mario Mandzukic recently, the Mirror claims that they are “most interested” in Dembele and the 23-year-old is their “priority” in the January transfer window.
