The midfield candidates who could replace Paul Pogba at United
Goretzka is a cut-price Champions League winner, Neves is proven in the Premier League and Camavinga is France’s next big thing… the candidates to replace Pogba as he rejects £50m contract offer
- Manchester United face a dilemma over Paul Pogba’s future at Old Trafford
- The Frenchman has been linked with a summer exit after entering his final year
- United are now weighing up selling Pogba so they don’t lose him for nothing
- A number of replacements for Pogba have already been linked with United
- Sportsmail takes a look at each candidate and what they’d likely cost the club
Manchester United are starting to prepare for the scenario of life without Paul Pogba, who is being strongly linked with the Old Trafford exit this summer.
The Frenchman has entered the final year of his deal at United and could be on his way to PSG if he decides against committing his future to the club.
Sportsmail understands that Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola is currently discussing personal terms with PSG, who believe they can sign the 28-year-old for approximately £43million.
Paul Pogba could leave Manchester United this summer after entering the final year of his deal
Pogba has just 12 months left on his £290,000-a-week contract and has given no indication that he is interested in signing a new one, leaving United to ponder their options in this window.
United now have a major decision to make about Pogba and must sell him in the next few weeks to recoup anything substantial from the world record £89m they paid for him back in 2016.
But who exactly could the Red Devils bring in as his replacement? And how much would they cost?
Sportsmail takes a look at the four main midfield candidates that have been linked with United this summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United could need midfield reinforcement either this summer or next
Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)
Value: £65m (or free next summer)
Like Pogba, Goretzka has entered the final year of his deal at Bayern Munich and it remains to be seen if he’ll commit his long-term future to the Bavarian club.
Bayern find themselves in the exact same scenario and could have to sell the Germany international for a cut-price of his £65m valuation.
Sportsmail understands that United have already made contact with the 26-year-old over the possibility of a move this summer or as a free agent next year.
United have reportedly tabled an offer to sign Leon Goretzka when he is a free agent next year
The 26-year-old helped Bayern lift the Champions League in 2020, where they beat PSG
Reports in Germany even go as far to say United have made Goretzka ‘a concrete £200,000-a-week offer’ to join them next summer.
But there is plenty of interest in Goretzka, with Real Madrid and Barcelona linked with him, as well as a number of Premier League clubs.
That interest would only intensify if Goretzka failed to agree new terms with Bayern as he would be available for nothing next summer.
Goretzka, who is a Champions League winner with the club, is also said to have grown ‘irritated’ by contract negotiations with Bayern, which could play into United’s hands.
However, Julian Nagelsmann has reiterated his desire to keep Goretzka at the club: ‘Leon is an important player for us. I would be happy to work with him for many years,’ Nagelsmann told reporters.
The Germany international midfielder has just one year remaining on his contract at Bayern
‘I think very highly of him. He is one of the most dangerous midfielders in the world. Everyone likes to have him in their team.’
Goretzka would been seen as the ideal replacement for Pogba, given him towering presence in midfield and his ability to get from box to box all game long.
Goretzka has scored 25 goals in 112 matches during his three seasons at Bayern after he joined them from Schalke in 2018.
That time has seen him win three Bundesliga titles, two German Cups and the Champions League in 2020. He’s played 35 times for Germany, scoring 14 goals.
Value: £34m
Saul has long been a target of Manchester United and this could be the summer where the finally land the 26-year-old.
The Red Devils have been tracking him since he was a teenager but the string of a contracts he was fed by Atletico to keep him at the club eventually saw him sign a nine-year deal in 2017 until 2026 with an eye-watering £130m buy-out clause.
However, with the Spain star no longer a mainstay in Diego Simeone’s plans at the Wanda Metropolitano, Atletico may decide to cash-in on him and could be made available for £34m.
The prospect of joining United would be an enticing one, too, given he would receive the integral role at Old Trafford he isn’t currently getting at Atletico.
Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez could be another potential target if United need a midfielder
United will have to fend off interest from Liverpool, who he has spoken highly of in the past.
However, United also face competition from Barcelona as well.
As reported by Sportsmail earlier this month, the Catalan giants and Atletico were in advanced negotiations about the swap deal of the summer, which would see Saul move to the Nou Camp and Antoine Griezmann return to the Spanish capital but chances of that coming to fruition are now slim.
Reports in Spain suggest United would be ready to swoop for Saul if any swap deal fell through.
Saul is frustrated by being played in many different positions by Diego Simeone
Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes)
Value: £25m (or free next summer)
Another player who is set to become a free agent next summer is Eduardo Camavinga.
The Angola-born midfielder, 18, is widely seen as one of the most promising players in world football having successfully broken through for Ligue 1 side Rennes aged just 16, as well as the senior French international team.
However, with just 12 months left to run on his deal, one of football’s most talented players could be available for as little as £25m.
Eduardo Camavinga is seen as one of Europe’s brightest prospects and could replace Pogba
For someone with such potential to develop into a world class player, that truly would be a steal although obviously United won’t get a free run at him with other big clubs interested.
Sportsmail revealed last month that United have already contacted Rennes over a move for Camavinga, with Rennes willing to cash in now rather than risk him becoming a free agent.
Arsenal and Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in Camavinga, who scored on his first France start against Ukraine and is recognised as one of the best young midfielders in Europe.
United missed out on a deal for Jude Bellingham last year and recognise Camavinga as another top young player who can improve their squad.
And while Camavinga is well known to Pogba, the Frenchman could very much be the ideal man to replace his compatriot.
Pogba referred to Camavinga as ‘a little dancer’ when he welcomed him into the France squad but may be calling him ‘my successor’ should United pull out all the stops to sign him.
The Angola-born midfielder, 18, has entered the final year of his contract with Rennes
Ruben Neves (Wolves)
Value: £35m
Unlike the other three players already mentioned, Neves boasts Premier League experience that could make him a safe bet when it comes to looking for Pogba’s successor.
And it appears that United are keen on securing a deal for the midfielder, who has thrived in the Midlands since joining from Porto back in 2017.
Neves currently has two years remaining on his contract and would cost in the region of £35m for his suitors.
While Arsenal and Tottenham are also interested in the Portuguese midfielder, it is United in the driver’s seat in the race to sign him should they choose to pursue the Wolves man.
Ruben Neves boasts Premier League experience and is a target for United this summer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also considering switching formations from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 next season, according to reports, which would see him do away with his relied partnership of Fred and Scott McTominay.
And with room for only one holding midfielder and a sure-fire spot for Bruno Fernandes, Neves could be seen as the ideal man to recycle play and keep the team ticking when in possession.
While he may not be the cheapest option on the list, there’s no doubting the Wolves man’s quality.
…But what about Donny van de Beek?
The Dutchman has endured a nightmare start to life at United following his £40m move from Ajax last summer.
The 24-year-old has been left to warm the bench for the majority of the season and appears not to be trusted by his manager.
However, Solskjaer’s reported desire to switch to a three-man midfield could throw Van de Beek a lifeline, who has only made a desperately disappointing four Premier League starts last season.
He has been linked with the exit after just 12 months in Manchester but reports suggest he is willing to stay and fight for his place at United after overcoming a groin injury that saw him miss the Euros.
His admirable stance may win over fans and his colleagues at the club, while Pogba’s departure could just well be the opportunity he’s been waiting for.
Donny van de Beek could be handed a lifeline at United if Pogba ends up leaving this summer
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