MAN UNITED v NEWCASTLE
SHARED AGENT COULD MEAN ONE IN, ONE OUT
MANCHESTER UNITED’S top brass fear the future of Paul Pogba will become mixed up in their attempt to sign rising star Erling Haaland.
United have made Haaland, 19, one of their main transfer targets and want to lure him to Old Trafford before the start of next season.
The Red Bull Salzburg striker has become one of the most sought-after stars in European football following his prolific form for the Austrian club.
But he and Pogba share the same agent in the shape of Mino Raiola.
And United are worried this could complicate their attempts to sign the Norwegian international.
Their growing concern is that Raiola will try to get United to agree to sell Pogba to Real Madrid in return for him persuading Haaland to move to Old Trafford.
Despite boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisting
Pogba will not be sold in next month’s transfer window, the unsettled France international remains determined to leave.
Pogba, 26, has set his heart on joining Real, with Raiola admitting just last week the midfielder needed more support at United and that Real tried to sign him last summer. Pogba remains on good terms with Solskjaer, but fears he will not go on to win the game’s biggest prizes if he stays with the Reds.
It is understood Haaland has a £17million release clause in his contract, with United willing to hand him a long-term deal in the region of £150,000 a week.
He was spotted signing a replica United shirt last week before reports claimed he had boarded a plane to Manchester to hold talks with the club. But his dad, former Leeds midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland, took to social media to mock the claims and revealed his son was instead heading to Copenhagen for the Christmas holidays. Borussia Dortmund,
Juventus and Barcelona are also interested in Haaland, who has scored 28 goals in 22 games in all competitions.
But Haaland played under Solskjaer during their time together at Molde, and United believe that close relationship will boost their chances of beating their competitors to his signature.
This could depend on Raiola, who will be keen to secure the most lucrative move for Haaland – as well as resolve Pogba’s uncertain future at the same time.