What do you do with a player like Paul Pogba? That’s the question which has been troubling pundits, not to mention Manchester United coaches, for the five seasons he’s played in the Premier League.
As a Manchester United youngster, he was allowed by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson to leave for Juventus in 2012, and he so impressed in Turin that the Red Devils shelled out 105m Euros to bring him back to Old Trafford.
Since then he has divided opinion within the Manchester United faithful as his performances have varied from the sensational to the abject. And while his inconsistency has infuriated fans of the club, he rarely fails to turn up for France.
What’s more, his agent has been a thorn in the side of the Red Devils hierarchy, constantly agitating for a better deal for his man…doing his job well, I suppose. And there have been times in recent years when the Frenchman has openly shared his desire to leave Manchester.
So here we go again.
Amidst rumours of a potential move for Pogba to Paris Saint-Germain, head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that talks are ongoing between the club and the player’s representatives: “All that I’ve ever heard with Paul is he’s looking forward to the season,” he said.
The 28-year-old can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January, but United may be tempted to cash in, and the club is said to be planning a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez.
Solskjaer has been in negotiations himself and has signed a new contract which keeps him at Old Trafford until 2024. He returned to the club as head coach in the 2018/19 season, and last term led them to a second-place finish in the Premier League and the final of the Europa League.
But, with neighbours Manchester City reported to be planning a double swoop for Harry Kane and Jack Grealish, the pressure is on OGS to keep pace and he could do with resolving the Pogba situation one way or another. Keep an eye on the Premier League 2021 news here at SBOTOP as the updates roll in.
Ben’s all White for Gunners
Young Brighton centre-back Ben White is on the verge of a £50m move to Arsenal and is due complete a medical at the Emirates this week. He only missed two games for the Seagulls last season as head coach Graham Potter guided them to safety for a second campaign running.
White was a key figure in a defence which only conceded 46 goals, the joint-best defensive performance in the bottom half of the Premier League table. He has only made 41 appearances for the Seagulls since he arrived from Southampton in 2014, but his performances in his breakthrough season earned him a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional Euro 2020 squad and, still only 23, he has potential to improve.
Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta is looking for a new keeper and is considering a third bid for Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale, reported to be approaching £30m.
Arsenal sold Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa for a fee rising to £20m last season and watched him make a record-equalling number of clean sheets (15) for the Villains before winning the Copa America and Golden Glove with Argentina, so a move for twice relegated Ramsdale for a fee significantly higher fee seems a little odd.
The pre-season Premier League 2021 betting odds predict another difficult season for the Gunners and Arteta is another boss under pressure to succeed.
Meanwhile, midfield enforcer Granit Xhaka’s move to Roma looks to be on hold as the two clubs try to agree a fee.
Get jabbed or stay at home
With the COVID pandemic still spreading quickly around the world governments and football bodies are trying to work out how to open up stadiums safely in the coming season.
In France, President Macron has caused a stir by saying only vaccinated people can access bars and restaurants and in the UK the government is in talks with the Premier League over preventing unvaccinated fans from going to matches. The government believes this could incentivise younger people to get the vaccine while giving other fans assurance that they can attend safely.
It is reported that Premier League games could be open to fully vaccinated fans only by October, at which time all the adult population of the country will have been offered a double jab. It is hoped that the season will start without any such restrictions but clubs will be preparing to equip their turnstiles with the required technology as the new season approaches.
Whether fans at Manchester United, jabbed our un-jabbed, will see Pogba lining up for the Red Devils in three weeks time…only time will tell.
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