Pogba almost there
(left) celebrates Liverpool’s second goal against LONDON: Many aspiring goalkeepers dream of getting to chuck off the gloves and trying their hand outfield, but for young Shamal George that dream became a reality on Wednesday.
With Jurgen Klopp having used all his outfield substitutes at half-time of the 2-0 victory over Huddersfield, Lucas Leiva’s second-half injury left the Reds in an uncomfortable position.
Faced with playing half-an-hour with 10 men, Klopp went for broke and decided to allow the 18-year-old a run-out in the famous red strip.
Liverpool were one-goal to the good at the time thanks to Marko Grujic’s first-half strike before the lanky goalkeeper was asked to strip off from his goalkeeping kit and into increase on his current £72,000 a week. But their resolve to hold on to the star is to be severely tested as United step up their efforts to sign him.
Pogba deliberated long and hard over his future during Euro 2016 but has since made up his mind to leave Turin and rejoin the club he left acrimoniously in 2012.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has convinced the 23year-old and his agent, Mino Raiola,
CONFIDENT: Man United agree personal terms with Juve star
the all red.
His first job was to defend a Huddersfield free-kick, before he was thrown up front as the Reds looked to defend their slender lead.
Barely a minute after his introduction, George was in the thick of the action as he looked to release Lazar Markovic, but his through ball was slightly over-hit.
With 11 minutes to go his moment of glory almost arrived, as he ran through on goal only to be brought back by the offside flag.
Replays showed the goalkeeper, who only signed his first professional contract with the club in May, had checked his run as he looked to beat the offside trap but set off marginally early.
After the game George shared a that joining the excitement surrounding Jose Mourinho’s new dawn at Old Trafford is worth sacrificing a season of Champions League football for.
Woodward was not on Tuesday afternoon’s flight to China for this summer’s pre-season tour, with his priority firmly on negotiating the most high-profile transfer in the club’s history.
Pogba’s heart was initially set on leaving for Real Madrid but Florentino
on Wednesday. photo on his Twitter profile after someone had photoshopped him claiming the Ballon d’Or award.
George is highly thought of within the Liverpool academy after starring for the Under-18 side last season and was included in the squad that travelled to Basle for the Europa League final in May.
He is not the first goalkeeper to try his hand in an outfield position for Liverpool after Pepe Reina was handed a customary pre-season appearance in midfield by Rafa Benitez.
The most famous outfield goalkeeper is perhaps David James, who was shunted outfield by Stuart Pearce in the final stages of Manchester City’s final game of the season against Middlesbrough back in 2005. Daily Mail Perez — president at the Bernabeu — held reservations about the scale of transfer fee and wages required to land him.
That gave United a clear run and Pogba is now on the hunt for a property in Prestbury, an exclusive Cheshire village.
Juventus are desperate not to lose their talisman, although they have made a number of prominent signings this summer to cushion any potential blow.
Woodward recognises the commercial value Pogba would bring to United. Last month SportsPro magazine ranked him as the second most marketable sportsman in the world, behind NBA superstar Stephen Curry and ahead of thirdplaced India batsman Virat Kohli.
He also endorses Adidas, whose 10-year sponsorship deal with United worth £750 million began at the start of last season.
Mourinho has been confident of landing Pogba all summer and United have already spent more than £50 million recruiting central defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal and Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Both flew out to Asia with the squad ahead of today’s first tour match in Shanghai. Daily Mail as I understand it that’s the discussion. We appointed a three-man committee to go out and look at the candidates and they’ve come back with a decision about who they think is the best man.”
The three-man selection group is made up of FA chief executive Martin Glenn, FA technical director Dan Ashworth and FA vice-chairman David Gill. Reuters