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Gossip: Pogba 'offered' to Barcelona as Man United eye '£90m' Bale and Courtois nears exit

There could be one big name in and one big name out at Manchester United.
There could be one big name in and one big name out at Manchester United.

You’d think Paul Pogba has more important things to think about today than making a lucrative move from Manchester United to Barcelona, but try telling that to the Mail on Sunday, which reports that Paul Pogba is thinking about making a lucrative move from Manchester United to Barcelona.

The France midfielder, who as we speak is poised to take on Croatia in the World Cup final, has allegedly been “offered” to the Catalan giants due to his “unhappiness” with life under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.

To be fair to Pogba, none of this has anything to do with him. His “super” agent Mino Raiola is the man who has apparently made contact with Barca and informed them that his client “wants to leave” United.

Raiola took a £40m cut last time he negotiated Pogba a move (from Juventus to United), but that was two years ago and he might have spent all of it by now, so this is potentially very important for him and his family.


And if you think the World Cup final is more important than whether Mino Raiola’s children eat tonight, then you are – frankly – heartless.

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Barca are said to “admire” Pogba although they may reportedly opt for a more economical alternative, such as Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot or Sevilla’s Steven Nzonzi. Good old Steven Nzonzi – Blackburn should have kept hold of him, in hindsight.

Man United want Gareth Bale

Manchester United transfer target Gareth Bale blames Real Madrid exit comments on ‘frustration’.
Manchester United transfer target Gareth Bale blames Real Madrid exit comments on ‘frustration’.

Hypothetically speaking, if United were to offload Pogba they could use the funds to sign Gareth Bale, who the Sunday Mirror reports is still on Mourinho’s radar amid uncertainty over his future at Real Madrid.

United are said to be “keen” on tying up a £90m move for the Welshman, whose fate will be decided when he holds a “crunch meeting” with new Bernabeu boss Julen Lopetegui this week.

Bale has apparently “told friends” in Cardiff that he is “open minded about his future”. So who knows, maybe he will just become an electrician or an acupuncturist.

Meanwhile, Bale’s fellow Southampton homeboy Luke Shaw has turned down the chance to leave Old Trafford and join Everton, who the Times says had offered the left-back the chance to “rebuild his stalling career” at Goodison Park.

Courtois closes in on Real Madrid switch

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could join his Belgian friend Eden Hazard in quitting Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid, according to the Sunday Express. The goalkeeper is allegedly in “advanced talks” with the European champions, although the Blues will not let him leave until they have signed a replacement, so Willy Caballero shouldn’t get his hopes up.

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The west Londoners are also keen on signing Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly (Sunday Mirror), although they will be less keen on paying the £80m price tag that Napoli have reportedly placed on his head.

Elsewhere, Manchester City have been quoted £80m to sign Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic (Daily Star Sunday), Tottenham are chasing France and Stuttgart defender Benjamin Pavard as a replacement for Toby Alderweireld (People) and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Daniel Sturridge could still have a future at Anfield (Sky Sports). There is the possibility of some vacancies coming up in the club superstore, apparently.