United ready to reject offers for Pogba before European deadline

Manchester United will not entertain offers for Paul Pogba before the close of the European transfer windows early next month.

Pogba, 26, admitted he was still uncertain about his future at Old Trafford after Sunday’s impressive 4-0 win over Chelsea, when he set up United’s third and fourth goals.

With the Spanish and Italian transfer windows not shutting until Sept 2, there remains time for Pogba’s main suitors, Real Madrid and Juventus, to test United’s resolve.

But United have no intention of allowing the France midfielder to depart on several grounds. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer considers Pogba to be central to his plans this season and, encouraged by the player’s attitude and application after a summer of heavy scrutiny, he is confident he will be fully focused.

Moreover, with the Premier League transfer window closing last Thursday, there would be no opportunity to bring in a replacement for arguably their best player and, having failed to strengthen the midfield, they are already relatively light in that department.

United were reluctant to lose Pogba this summer, but it is thought the club would have considered their record £89 million signing’s position had their minimum £160million valuation been met.

No club got close to that price tag, however, and there is no expectation of that changing. Real have had a derisory bid of £28 million plus Colombia striker James Rodriguez rejected in the past fortnight.

The approach reaffirmed suspicions at Old Trafford that the Spanish giants do not have the funds to

Central to their plans: United have valued midfielder Paul Pogba at about £160million make a serious offer for Pogba after already spending in excess of £270million on players, including Eden Hazard from Chelsea. United’s stance will not signal an end to the longer-term uncertainty over Pogba’s future, though.

Cristiano Ronaldo, denied a move to Real in the summer of 2008, was encouraged by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson to give United another season on the proviso he could move a year later if he still felt the same way. It remains to be seen if Solskjaer has come to a similar arrangement with Pogba.

Pogba will have two years left on his contract by then, although any departure would still require a suitor to be able to stump up an enormous fee and meet his £290,000-a-week wages.

Whether United will attempt to open contract talks with Pogba over the course of the season is also unclear. But given that the Frenchman has pushed for a transfer for two successive summers – a request to join Barcelona last year was rebuffed – the prospect of him tying himself to a longer-term deal that would reduce any need for the Manchester club to sell would be a considerable about-turn.

Meanwhile, United goalkeeper Joel Pereira has joined Scottish side Hearts on loan for the season, subject to international clearance.