PAUL POGBA has demanded an incredible £500,000-a-week to stay at Manchester United, according to reports.
Were the France World Cup winner to agree that figure, it would far outstrip the £375,000-a-week paid to current highest earner David de Gea.
Meanwhile the Red Devils are reported to be holding ongoing talks with Raphael Varane’s entourage.
Real Madrid are said to be willing to sell the Frenchman for the right price this summer.
One of Real Madrid’s potential targets is Erling Haaland, but neither they nor Barcelona are reported to be able to meet the Norwegian’s wage demands.
That could let United in, with the Red Devils still on a firm financial footing despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Get all the latest Man Utd news, updates and transfer gossip with our live blog…
SILVER-AWARE
Jonny Evans reckons lifting a trophy with Leicester would be up there with anything he achieved at Manchester United.
At the age of 21, Evans had already won world, European and English titles with the Red Devils and admits he probably took silverware ‘for granted’.
Ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton, the Northern Ireland star, now 33, said: “Winning something with Leicester is definitely a more difficult thing to do.
“That’s not putting any slight on Manchester United’s achievements. You see now how difficult it has been for them to win the league and to win as many trophies as under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“The resources and everything they’ve got, they’re a club set up to be a winning machine. But it’s something Leicester are trying to do.
“Maybe winning something with Leicester would be an achievement up there with one of the best for me, on a personal level.”
HELPING HEND
Chris Wood has the ball in the net straight after kick-off but thankfully for Dean Henderson the goal is ruled out for offside.
BETTER CALL SAUL
Man Utd could reportedly meet Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez’s release clause in the summer.
The Daily Star have claimed that the Red Devils are ready to activate his £43m clause as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eyes up a new midfielder.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also understood to be interested in the Spain international.
But it has been stated that Saul could be tempted by a switch to the Premier League.
TEAM NEWS
Here is how Man Utd start against Burnley at Old Trafford.
EURO MILLIONS
Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have reportedly signed up for a European Super League.
The development of the Super League is seen as a rival to Uefa’s Champions League, which is set to revamped with a new 36-team tournament to come into force in 2024.
Sources have told The Sunday Times that five British clubs have already agreed to the plan, with only Manchester City among the ‘Big Six’ yet to do so.
The Super League proposals include:
– The 15 founder clubs sharing an initial 3.5billion (£3.1billion) euro “infrastructure grant” ranging from £310million to £89million per club which can be spent on stadiums, training facilities or “to replace lost stadium-related revenues due to Covid-19”.
– The format would see two groups of 10 clubs who play home and away, with the top four from each group going through to two-legged quarter-finals, semi-finals and a one-legged final.
Read more HERE.
VERY GREEN
Man Utd forward Mason Greenwood is ‘years away’ from playing as the club’s central striker, according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Norwegian said: “Mason isn’t just a natural finisher – he’s a natural footballer. He is so smooth and he’s matured so much this season.
“You can see his body has developed and he’s getting stronger. His consistency is getting better and better and he will start scoring more goals, that’s for sure.
“I have been really impressed and happy with his development this season. He’s come through that difficult patch as a stronger person and a better player.
“Maybe in the future he can play as a central striker, but I still think that’s a few years away. Being a centre-forward in the Premier League is probably the hardest position to play.
“At the moment, I think Mason is more suited to playing that wide role, dropping into pockets, finding space and running in behind.
“I don’t want him with his back to goal and having two centre-backs up his backside. I think we have found a good way to develop him, but he might end up as a No 9.”
Solskjaer feels Greenwood’s style of play lends itself to him playing on the wing KANE IS ABLE
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has urged Harry Kane to leave Tottenham, as he declared Man Utd could be a good option.
Writing in the Mirror, he said: “He [Kane] knows he probably has one big move left in him, and if he’s to ensure he has no regrets, no ‘what might have been’ moments like me, then he has to think about his future.
“Will he win a title at Spurs? Unlikely. They’re not going to even make the Champions League next season, so they’re a long way short.
“And they may even be looking at a new manager again in the summer. Which could mean more years of rebuilding… and waiting.
“There will be clubs interested too. Manchester United have been mentioned, strongly. And City too. Both would be strong options for him, no doubt.
“Who knows, he could be the missing ingredient United need to take that final step, and if City were to sign him, then…well, it doesn’t bear thinking about if you’re a fan of any other Premier League club.”
DOUBLE BRU
Paul Scholes believes Manchester United’s Special Bru should be combined with the flair of the Pog to produce a devastating punch.
He told BT Sport: “Solskjaer likes the two sitting players. I don’t think there’s a need for both of them,
“They need to get Pogba in a linking role with Bruno. If they do, it frees up another position for a forward player.
“The awareness and cleverness they both have allows each other to link up.
“United’s two cleverest players are Fernandes and Pogba so if you can get them close together, they’ll score a lot and provide goals for others too.”
Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes continue to impress for Man Utd NOT KEANE
Roy Keane fears he has been overlooked for the Celtic job — despite talks with the Scottish giants.
The Manchester United legend hoped to get a shot at his dream appointment and was backed by ex-Hoops boss Martin O’Neill.
But Keane’s chances are now fading fast after Eddie Howe’s interview and the delay in hearing from Celtic.
The Irishman, 49, who managed Sunderland and Ipswich, split opinions in the club’s hierarchy, with some liking his passion while others wanted a more modern coach.
And although he is desperate for the job, Keane has told mates he feels the chance has gone.
Former Bournemouth manager Howe remains in pole position to take over at Celtic Park.
DEAFENING SILENCE
Premier League clubs are set to agree a social media boycott, according to reports.
Top-flight teams want to send a message that racism will not be tolerated and will launch a war against online hate.
According to Daily Mail, teams are planning to go silent on social media for 24 hours either side of their game on the ‘Weekend of Action’ between May 1-3.
And the report adds that the Premier League will also boycott social media for the duration of the round of fixtures.
Clubs have been asked to confirm their support for the plans by 2pm on Monday 19 April, the report states.
The move is a bid to ramp up pressure on social platforms to act against online hate and abuse after a spate of recent incidents.
MAN UTD NEWS
Hello and welcome to SunSport’s rolling Man Utd news blog.
Red Devils star Paul Pogba is reportedly demanding £500,000-a-week to stay at Old Trafford.
The French star, 28, is currently under contract until June 2022.
And his agent, Mino Raiola is said to have told senior members of the United hierarchy his client will sign a deal, but ONLY if it’s worth a staggering half a million per week, according to the Daily Star.
Should United agree to Pogba’s demands, it would make him the highest paid player in the club’s history.
The Daily Star also claim that PSG, Real Madrid and Juventus have all been informed how much it would cost to secure his signature.
Incredibly, with image rights included to that base wage Pogba could net somewhere in the region of £800,000-a-week.
In other news, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United can still pull off a title miracle.
He said: “Can we catch City? Stranger things have happened in football. Bigger leads have been given away.
“They have been strong and it’s probably too much to hope and ask for. But as long as we do our job then that’s the main thing.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea have joined Manchester United in the race for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, according to reports.
The 27-year-old French centre-back has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford at the end of the season as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract with the Spanish giants.
BILD journalist Christian Falk understands Chelsea are keen to acquire Varane’s signature as they look to bolster their defensive options.
And finally, SunSport have exclusively revealed that United are on the trail of Metz teen sensation Pape Sarr.
The Senegalese 18-year-old won his first cap for his country in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo last month.
That came only four months after his league debut for the French club in November.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
