Chelsea out of the race for €80m long term midfield target

Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba

Catalan newspaper Sport have been dropping some bombshells lately. For the past few days, the newspaper is running a story on Barcelona’s interest in Manchester United forward Angel di Maria, where they claim the Catalan giants are ready to lodge a massive bid for the Argentine. 

Mundo Deportivo covered a story yesterday that Barcelona will fight tooth and nail to sign Paul Pogba. The French midfielder, who won three league titles with Juventus, has been targeted by (if the reports are to be believed) by almost all the big clubs in Europe – Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, PSG, Barcelona and Real Madrid. 

Paul Pogba

Juventus want to keep their prized asset with them, but the Turin giants are probably aware that they might have to sell him if big offer come in the way. Now that he has established himself into a world class talent, the Bianconeri would want to get the maximum fee out of the deal, in case Pogba leaves the club. 

According to Sport, Real Madrid will try to sign Pogba in the summer. Not for the first time we have heard this type of by-line and we can guarantee it won’t be the last time either. Florentino Perez, the club’s president, met with Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola and Juventus president Andrea Agnelli few days ago and he discussed about the possibility of signing Pogba. 

Juventus are demanding a fee in the region of €80m. While there are plenty of big European clubs interested in him at this moment, not a single club are ready to dish out such a huge transfer outlay for the 22-year-old. Raiola also demands a wage of €12m-per year for his client, which Sport describes as an ‘economic madness’. 

In the meeting Raiola has made it clear that Pogba’a first choice is to move to Spain. The French international is not keen in moving to the Premier League (probably due to his bad experience with Manchester United?), and that’s why offers from City & Chelsea interest him less.

Real have offered an olive branch as well, saying the club will remove the ‘buy back’ options they have on Alvaro Morata. 

Mourinho tried to talk personally with Pogba. Chelsea can’t compete at €80m because of the Financial Fair Play restrictions. Pogba is currently enjoying his holidays and he isn’t willing to meet with anybody and discuss about any transfer move. 

The report suggest that Chelsea are out of the race for Pogba unless he decides to stay an extra year at Juve. City remains another option and his agent is happy with the sums involved but Pogba isn’t interested in a return to England.

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