New Pog deal top priority
and have drawn up a list that includes West Ham’s Declan Rice, Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi and Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez.
But their preferred option is for Pogba to commit the peak years of his career to United, after arguably his best season for the club following his record return from Juventus in 2016.
United believe Pogba is now unlikely to get a better offer this summer as the financial ramifications of the pandemic continue to bite the sport.
Pogba has spent the last three years flirting with Real Madrid.
But United would want to claw back £80million – and that would be too rich for the Spanish giants and for his former club Juve.
United are planning to sell £350,000-a-week goalkeeper David De Gea in a bid to free-up money for Pogba’s new deal, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made Dean Henderson his No.1.
But they know the clock is ticking on convincing Pogba to stay – and his potential price has been dropping by the month since a contractual impasse forced United to trigger a 12-month extension.
United boss Solskjaer admits he is desperate for Pogba to sign a new deal.
Solskjaer said: “I had Paul when he was a reserve player as well, and he knows my feelings about him and that I want him to stay.
“I enjoy managing and challenging him because he is a winner. You can see he’s enjoying himself here. He has a smile on his face.
“I try to treat everyone with the same respect, but some players like Paul you have known since they were young lads – it is easier to have a bond.”