What's the story?
According to reports from Spanish media outlet AS, Manchester United want €170 million for their star midfielder Paul Pogba.
Representatives of Real Madrid have already begun their negotiations but there are too many obstacles and the negotiations can drag on till the end of the transfer window.
In case you didn't know...
Since his return to Old Trafford in 2016, Paul Pogba has proven himself to be an asset for Manchester United. But the 26-year-old suffered a roller-coaster of a campaign, filled with inconsistency and controversy.
Pogba suffered in the first half of the season under former boss Jose Mourinho but he delivered powerful performance when Ole Gunner Solskjaer took charge in December. But in recent months, the Frenchman endured another slump in form.
Despite the inconsistent performances, Pogba has netted 13 goals and provided 9 nine assists in the Premier League, which won him a place in the PFA Team of the year. Despite being one of the best players for the Red Devils, Pogba was involved in a verbal spat with few United fans after their last Premier League game.
Manchester United won only two out of their last 12 matches in all competitions, with their latest defeat coming against Cardiff City. United finished the Premier League on the 6th spot, far below their usual standards.
The heart of the matter
Paul Pogba remains a favorite player of Zinedine Zidane as the French manager never hid his admiration for him. The player himself is interested to make a move but the high wages and huge asking price are two major obstacles in a potential deal.
According to the reports, the Red Devils will demand €170 million for Pogba to fend off the Spanish giants. Los Blancos hierarchy is interested in securing the services of the player but they will not be willing to match the demands of the club or match the wages of the French midfielder.
Moreover, Manchester United are not interested in Toni Kroos or Gareth Bale which makes a potential deal more difficult for the Spanish giants.
What's next?
With the season over for both clubs, United and Madrid will look to bring some reinforcements in the transfer window.