Man Utd suffer transfer blow over ideal Paul Pogba replacement

Rangnick comments on Martial's Man Utd future amid exit talk

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Manchester United have been hit with a transfer blow over their ideal replacement for Paul Pogba. The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season and it appears increasingly unlikely that he will depart when his deal at Old Trafford expires.

United could sell Pogba in the January transfer window in an attempt to cash in on the World Cup winner.

But if they did see him leave Manchester, a new midfielder would be needed to fill his place in Ralf Rangnick’s squad.

A range of options have been considered and near the top of their shortlist has consistently been Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni.

Tchouameni has become a key player under Niko Kovac at the Ligue 1 side, featuring in all but two games in all competitions this season.

His performances have drawn the eye of several potential suitors across Europe, including the Red Devils.

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The Frenchman has mainly featured as a defensive midfielder this term, but has the ability to play further forward.

With central midfield being a key area that United are looking to boost in the transfer market, Tchouameni would appear to be the perfect option.

But the Red Devils are not the only club who are interested in the 21-year-old, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Juventus all eyeing a move.

Those potential suitors have now been handed a major blow though, with Monaco set to hold out for a monster fee and wait until the summer before opening any talks.

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Tchouameni has more than two years remaining on his contract, a situation that Monaco will look to exploit in any transfer negotiations.

The Ligue 1 side’s sporting director Paul Mitchell has highlighted how valuable Tchouameni is to Monaco and hinted at how much he will cost.

“The market possibilities are endless and in July, we will take stock of the situation by analysing, first and foremost, how we will have finished the season,” Mitchell told Tuttosport.

“It should be remembered that the boy has a contract that binds him to Monaco until 2024. And his evaluation is definitely worth big money.

“In Monte Carlo, everything costs a lot and let’s say that Tchouameni is as expensive as a big casino.”

While Rangnick is set to have a transfer warchest of £100million at his disposal in January, this news will still be a blow.

With Tchouameni potentially not available until the summer, United may be forced to explore other options.

As Pogba edges towards an exit, missing out on what appears to be a perfect replacement will not be desirable for United’s boss.

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