da pixbet： With the transfer window set to reopen in just a few months’ time, Paul Pogba’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain.
What’s the word?
da mrbet： Speaking in a pre-match press conference before France’s friendly with Finland, Didier Deschamps believes Pogba is unhappy at Old Trafford. He said: “He is in a situation with his club where he cannot be happy, neither with his playing time, nor with his positioning.”
“He is not in his best period, he has had a series of injuries and the Covid-19 which has hit him quite hard. He needs to find his rhythm.
“With me, there is no such concern. When a player is in discomfort in his club, obviously, he is happy to play for the France team.
“He will tell me about his feelings and, as I know him very well, it will go in a positive direction.”
Pogba’s relationship with the Red Devils is well-documented amid ongoing transfer speculation after a throwaway remark he made about his ambitions of playing for Real Madrid.
Not so long ago, the idea of selling the French World Cup winner would have been a taboo subject amongst the United faithful, but it seems to be that this is no longer the case any more.
Ready-made replacement
As any regular reader of this column will know, we think that Pogba is one of the club’s best players on his day. But that doesn’t excuse his behaviour at times, or indeed the attitude of those around him like his infamous agent Mino Raiola, and Deschamps falls into the same bracket.
His comments seem to suggest that the 27-year-old is angling for a move away from Old Trafford as soon as possible, which will no doubt give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer some cause for concern, as he had been hopeful that the French international would sign a new deal and commit his future to the club to play an important role in their future success.
Reports in recent times claimed that the club have triggered the one-year clause in his contract, which will keep him at the club until 2022.
He has only started twice for Solskjaer’s side in seven games since the humiliating 6-1 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur, having only played the full 90 minutes twice so far this season (via Transfermarkt).
When you consider the fact that Pogba cost a club-record £94.5m from Juventus back in 2016, you do have to question why he isn’t getting more minutes under his belt.
However, Solskjaer already has the perfect ready-made replacement for Pogba in Donny van de Beek. Lining up in a midfield against the likes of Koke and Rodri, the 23-year-old was the man who stole the show in the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Spain.
The 10-cap Dutch international volleyed home the equaliser to score his second goal in as many games for his country as the Dutch fought back to a hard-earned draw in the international friendly.
Despite his young age, he has more than proved his worth already, as he scored a consolation goal against Crystal Palace at the start of the season. Pogba’s potential departure would leave a massive void for the Red Devils to fill, but if Van de Beek can continue to develop as a player under Solskjaer, then there is no reason why he cannot be the Frenchman’s long-term replacement at the club, one who is perfectly suited to the manager’s desires. Who knows, he may even save Solskjaer’s career!
AND in other news, Woeful Woodward: Manchester United will forever regret not signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund…