Manchester United begin talks with Paul Pogba, £85m bid rejected

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Manchester United have opened formal talks with Juventus over the transfer of Paul Pogba, 23.

The two clubs are in talks this week with United’s opening offer of £85m rejected by the Italian giants. A world record-breaking fee in excess of £100m is expected to secure the sought-after midfielder’s services.

It has been a summer of intense speculation over Pogba’s future. Real Madrid, for so long the front runners, appeared to have dropped out of the race and Manchester United seemed to have a clear run at his signature.

But speculation in the Spanish capital is rife that last season’s Champions League winners are returning to the negotiating table. Florentino Perez had baulked when told the fee would exceed the money Real Madrid paid for Gareth Bale, 27, in 2013. Reports suggest he has now had a change of heart.

However, United are in transfer mode and chief executive Ed Woodward is to miss the club’s pre-season tour of China to stay and continue negotiations.

Pogba was a key member of the French side which lost the Euro 2016 final this summer. Away on holiday in the USA, photographs circulated in this morning’s media of the player with an e-cigarette, an indiscretion which is likely to see him fined by Juventus and warned to be more media savvy by his new club.

 

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