The race to sign out-of-contract Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba this summer has well and truly begun.
The France international’s deal at Old Trafford expires this June and he has been free to speak to rival clubs since January 1.
A contract offer from United to Pogba has been on the table but talks have come to a standstill and the player is said to be delaying any decision over his future until the end of the campaign.
That could mean that the 28-year-old – the club’s record signing at £89million – could leave United as a free agent for the second time in his career, having joined Juventus in similar circumstances in 2012.
The Italian giants are interested in landing the Frenchman once again and have made contact with Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola regarding his situation.
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Pogba enjoyed arguably the best seasons of his career in Turin across his four-year stint with the Bianconeri, and the Italian giants are now eyeing his return.
Italian media outlet Gazzetta dello Sport outline how they have been in touch with Raiola and outlined the terms they are willing to offer the midfield ace.
Juve are said to be prepared to offer Pogba a net wage of £6.2million per season with add-ons taking his contractual situation up to £8.25m per annum.
The Old Lady would be willing to draw up a three-year deal for Pogba with the Growth Decree allowing them to save 50 percent on taxes on the player – meaning that in reality his deal would eclipse that of January arrival Dusan Vlahovic.
Paris Saint-Germain are another club are said to be in the race to land Pogba this summer, with former France international Frank Lebouf warning the Ligue 1 leaders against a deal.
Lebouf said this week: "If I was a coach, I don’t think I would take the risk of signing Pogba.
"But at the same time, how could you not want him with the talent that he has?
"I was talking the other day as to whether [Romelu] Lukaku should play against Burnley or not. As a coach you have to manage a dressing room of 30 guys.
"But when you have a striker who cost £100million, you think I have to have him out on the pitch, but you lose the others.
"You have to make sure the star is happy, but also that the second tier is happy. I can see that the dressing room was easier to manage without Lukaku last year.
"Imagine if you added Pogba to that problem - you might destroy the dressing room.
"As logical as [manager Thomas] Tuchel is, he won’t take the risk on Pogba. It’s too risky. Someone like [Zinedine] Zidane can do that - that’s why PSG are trying to hire Zidane.
"They know that only a person like Zidane can sort out the dressing room problems out."
Pogba has a tremendous CV, winning four Serie A titles, three domestic cups, the World Cup, Nations League and several other trophies during his career.
But he's failed to impress since United re-signed him for a club-record fee in the summer of 2016, winning just two major honours and none since 2017.
