Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has always been linked away from Old Trafford in almost every transfer window with the Red Devils forced to continually endure all the shenanigans that come with the speculations.
The 28-year-old has entered the final year of his contract at Old Trafford and with every effort to agree to a new deal proving abortive so far.
Meanwhile, report reaching National Daily reveals that United have finally accepted that the France international World Cup winner will be leaving the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Pogba was believed to have attracted interests from some top European clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and former club Juventus, but was unable to fulfill his attempt to leave Old Trafford two years ago.
However, National Daily gathered from the report by ESPN that the hierarchy at Old Trafford has felt for several months that the Frenchman would not sign a new contract are now finally resigned to losing him on a free transfer next summer.
The report further claims that the Red Devils are not willing to secure a transfer fee for Pogba by selling him in the January window, and are planning to keep the 28-year-old for the remainder of the season.
National Daily can further confirm from the report that United are also said to be making plans already for Pogba’s departure and will strengthen their midfield options next summer.
When asked about Pogba’s future this week, the midfielder’s agent Mino Raiola said: ‘You would have to ask Manchester United about it.
‘At this moment everything is calm. There is no update.’
Pogba, who returned to United in an £89 million deal from Juventus in 2016, has struggled to find consistency during his second stint at Old Trafford.
The France international started on the bench for United’s 5-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday but was brought on at half time before he was sent off in the 60th minute.
The claim on the readiness of the Old Trafford hierarchy to oversee the departure of the Frenchman was further fuelled when former Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes speaking after United’s game against Liverpool suggested that the club will not miss Pogba if he left.
‘You’d have to think, if Ole’s still a manager there, will we see Paul Pogba again in a United shirt? He’s caused mayhem over the last couple of years. Everybody knows what a talent he is, everybody trusts him, every manager trusts him, tried to give him his head and let him be the player he’s been,’ said Scholes.
‘But with all the commotion, not signing his contract, almost holding the club to ransom, and then he comes on and does something like that.
‘It’s not Ole’s fault, don’t get me wrong, but that’s part of it which almost summed the United performance up today.
‘Look, he probably will play [again] won’t he? But I don’t think they will be missing anything if he doesn’t.