Paul Pogba might be going to Man U,not Real Madrid

 

Manchester United's path to sign Paul Pogba is now clear after Real Madrid ended their interest in the midfielder for financial reasons. According to sources close to the deal, United's superior financial strength has given them a huge advantage in negotiations with Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, and forced Real to admit defeat in their pursuit of the player.

At this point in negotiations, the basic transfer fee for Pogba is understood to start at around £85m (€100m). However, when taking into account add-ons and bonuses related to the success of the player and the club the total amount United could pay for Pogba's transfer could reach over £105m (€123m). This is not including the player's contract, which is expected to comfortably exceed £65m, were the club to pay him a basic salary of £250,000 per week on a five-year deal.

The fact that Manchester United have shown willingness to meet these demands, but also potentially go further if a bidding race with Real plays out over the remaining weeks of the transfer window, has proved too much for the Spanish club's president Florentino Perez. Sources have confirmed Perez accepts his club cannot compete with United financially, so has withdrawn from negotiations.

Real will now turn their attention to Valencia's Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes, who could face Pogba in tonight's Euro 2016 final. Gomes is expected to become the subject of a £42m (€50m) transfer bid from Real after the conclusion of Euro 2016.

Pogba left United on free transfer in 2012, and was identified as a key transfer target when United first approached Jose Mourinho to become their new manager earlier this year.