Manchester United

Paul Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, has hit out at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Manchester United manager said, "Paul is our player and not Mino's" following transfer speculation about the Frenchman.

In a combative Twitter post, Raiola warned Solskjaer "you cannot own a human being" and said the Norwegian manager should "remember things that he said in the summer to Paul."

Paul is not mine and for sure not Solskjaer’s property, Paul is Paul Pogba’s. pic.twitter.com/CvBHW8mj8U

— RAIOLA (@MinoRaiola) February 17, 2020

Pogba, 26, has spent most of the 2019-20 campaign sidelined through injury, managing to start only five Premier League games. He has remained in the headlines, though, as speculation has continued about his future.

Raiola stoked that fire last week when he said Pogba would like to return to Juventus, the club he left in 2016 to make an £89 million move back to Old Trafford:

Paul Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, via @FabrizioRomano:

🗣 "Pogba feels at home in Italy. Italy is like his second home. ... That's why Paul would like to come back to Juventus." pic.twitter.com/nbR7a5AE0r

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 14, 2020

Solskjaer's response was understandably curt, and he also cast some doubt over whether Pogba would ever play for United again:

OGS says he gave Paul Pogba permission to miss @ManUtd training camp. On if he will play for club again: “Well of course, I'd like to say that as soon as he gets fit, he'll be good enough to play for the team. I'm sure Paul's desperate to play for us again.”

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) February 16, 2020

The minimum requirement for Solskjaer this season if he is to keep his job is likely to ensure United qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League. They are failing in that endeavour via the Premier League at the moment, but there remains an alternative route if United can win the UEFA Europa League this term.

The Red Devils return to European action on Thursday when they visit Club Brugge for the first leg of their last-32 tie in the Europa League.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reminded Paul Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, that the player belongs to the club rather than him.

Earlier in February, Raiola stated that the 26-year-old is hoping to return to Juventus:

Raiola: “Pogba to Juventus? Italy is like home for Paul. He’d like to come back to Juventus but we’ll see what will happen after the Euros. Pogba wants to play at the best level but he can’t escape by Man United if they’re in a difficult situation...” 🛑 #MUFC #Juve #Pogba

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 14, 2020

I talk to Juventus and their vice-chairman Pavel Nedved about many things, including about Pogba and other players, as is only right for a big club.
You need to get information, see what's happening, put down a few hypotheses, dream a little. #mufc

— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) February 15, 2020

"I've not spoken to Mino, that is for sure," Solskjaer said, per Goal's Josh Thomas. "And, no, I haven't sat down and told Paul to tell Mino what he should say. Paul is our player and not Mino's."

Ankle injuries have restricted Pogba to just eight appearances in all competitions this season, the most recent of which came against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.

Per BBC Sport's Simon Stone, Solskjaer was asked whether the midfielder will play for the Red Devils again:

OGS says he gave Paul Pogba permission to miss @ManUtd training camp. On if he will play for club again: “Well of course, I'd like to say that as soon as he gets fit, he'll be good enough to play for the team. I'm sure Paul's desperate to play for us again.”

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) February 16, 2020

The coach added:

"As a player the last thing you want is to be is injured and not being able to contribute to your team.

"Paul's a footballer and he wants to play football. He knows he has to work hard now to get back to his best as he's been out for so long. It's a challenge as well for him to get back to his shape.

"It's a difficult period in your career [being injured] but it is part and parcel of being a player—so I'm not going to give you a headline that his season has been such and such."

Pogba underwent surgery on his ankle on January 7, and Solskjaer had said he could be out for up to four weeks as a result.

The Frenchman is already well beyond that time frame, and he's not yet back in training with his team-mates. Solskjaer offered an update on his recovery, saying he has been able to start running on a treadmill "so hopefully we can see him back soon."

The lack of creativity in United's side without Pogba has been abundantly clear throughout the campaign. They have failed to score in 11 games in all competitions this season, while on 13 occasions they have found the net just once.

United signed Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP in January after the playmaker racked up 63 goals and 52 assists in 137 games for the Portuguese club. His arrival should improve United's firepower and creativity, but for the Red Devils to be at their best, they need both players in the side, so Pogba's return can't come soon enough.

As for his future at the club beyond the end of the season, Pogba will have just one year left on his contract at Old Trafford this summer. United may have to sell him to recoup the £89 million they spent on him in 2016 or risk losing him for free in 2021 if he's unwilling to sign a new deal. However, the club has an option to extend the deal for a further year.

Much could depend on whether the Red Devils qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.

United face fourth-place Chelsea—who are six points ahead of them—on Monday. However, Manchester City's two-year European ban is likely to result in the fifth-placed finisher getting a Champions League spot because the Sky Blues will almost certainly finish in the top four.

Solskjaer's side are five points off fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Monday's game in hand against Chelsea.

Odion Ighalo may be more than just a temporary fix for Manchester United's problems at striker. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said the former Watford man, who is on loan from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, could make Old Trafford his permanent home:

OGS confirms @ManUtd may make Ighalo loan permanent: “When you're in the door, it gives you a chance. If you impress as a player + person, help group improve, of course there's a chance we'll look at extending things.”

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) February 16, 2020

United acquired Ighalo on the last day of the January transfer window to help offset issues up front. Those issues relate to a lack of experienced cover behind centre-forward Anthony Martial, as well as an injury to Marcus Rashford.

Ighalo's six-month loan looked like a low-key move, but there is plenty to recommend the Nigeria international. The biggest endorsement of his potential to be a success for the Red Devils comes from his performances for the Hornets during the 2015/16 season.

He scored 16 goals in England's top flight and also helped Watford reach the semi-final of that season's FA Cup, notably netting a goal away to holders Arsenal in the last eight.

⏪ #ThrowbackThursday to an @ighalojude double at Brentford back in February 2015! pic.twitter.com/z5ZVZiJbaB

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) February 13, 2020

Ighalo has since scored 46 times in China. The 30-year-old also proved he can still cut it at international level with some exceptional displays for the Super Eagles last summer:

Odion Ighalo: #AFCON2019 record

🆚 Burundi ⚽️
🆚 Guinea ❌
🆚 Madagascar❌
🆚 Cameroon ⚽️⚽️🅰️⭐️
🆚 South Africa ❌
🆚 Algeria ⚽️
🆚 Tunisia ⚽️

He's scored more goals (5) than any other player at #AFCON2019

For more player stats -- https://t.co/b1s1ph7GRy pic.twitter.com/I0jrZuXpkR

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) July 19, 2019

While he's not as prolific as some, Ighalo has a proven track record of finding the net. Consistency in the box is something United have lacked despite Martial's talent.

The Frenchman has 12 goals to his credit in all competitions, but Martial has scored just once in his last six. Rashford's goals were easing the burden on the former AS Monaco star, but the England international is out for around six weeks with a back problem.

Missing Rashford means an extra burden on Mason Greenwood. The 18-year-old academy graduate has impressed by finding the net 10 times already this season, but he remains a prospect who needs time and patience to aid his development.

Greenwood has been a useful impact substitute, but Ighalo will give United's midfielders a natural focal point to aim for. He is strong enough to be effective in the air but also has the pace and instincts to spin in behind.

Those qualities could be showcased for the first time during Monday's game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It will be Ighalo's initial involvement after precautions taken following the outbreak of coronavirus in China:

Man Utd’s new signing Odion Ighalo has been kept away from their training ground as a precautionary measure against the risk of coronavirus following his arrival from China

He is expected to travel with the squad for Monday's game against Chelsea, per BBC pic.twitter.com/6MMKeWKaOS

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 13, 2020

Solskjaer has since confirmed Ighalo will be available to face the Blues, per Mark Froggatt of United's official website. It's a game with significant implications for United's pursuit of a place in next season's UEFA Champions League, with Solskjaer's men six points behind fourth-place Chelsea and five behind Tottenham Hotspur in fifth.

Ighalo is also eligible for the Red Devils' last-32 tie against Club Brugge in the UEFA Europa League. If he can chip in with some important goals, both domestically and in Europe, United will be hard-pressed to end Ighalo's stay this summer and overlook the chance to beef up their numbers and talent in forward areas.

Jack Grealish may be drawing admiring glances from Manchester United, but Aston Villa boss Dean Smith wants the player to stay in the Midlands beyond this season.

Smith outlined how Villa can keep hold of their star man, per Neil Moxley of the Sunday People (h/t Mirror):

"We've got two magnificent owners who want this club to be successful. They have got an awful lot of money which they’ve earned through their hard work in their businesses.

"They know that if you want to be a successful team you have to keep your best players. They will be working very hard to make sure our best players stop at this football club. That's the best answer I can give about Jack."

It's an ambitious statement, but the plan may be an unrealistic one, especially after Villa lost 3-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The defeat has left Smith's team in 17th, just one point and one place above the bottom three.

To make matters worse, West Ham United have played a game less. If the Hammers can avoid defeat away to Manchester City on Wednesday, Villa will be in the relegation zone.

The sorry state of affairs makes keeping Grealish all the more difficult. Villa's classy No. 10 is enjoying an exceptional personal season, despite his team's struggles.

Grealish assisted Villa's second goal against Spurs when his 53rd-minute corner was headed in by Bjorn Engels. The contribution boosted already impressive numbers for a player who must be in the reckoning for a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for this summer's UEFA Euro 2020 tournament:

Only two English players in Europe's top five leagues have recorded 6+ goals and 6+ assists this season:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jadon Sancho
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jack Grealish 🆕

cc Gareth Southgate. 😉 pic.twitter.com/oU0erORy6l

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 16, 2020

Those numbers also explain why United are being heavily linked with Grealish. Moxley dubbed the 24-year-old the Red Devils' "number one summer target in the past few weeks and there have also been links to Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona."

Grealish is said to view Old Trafford as his preferred destination, according to Dan King of the Sun. King also noted how Villa would require as much as £60 million to consider parting ways with their creative talisman.

Convincing Villa to sell would help United step up a necessary overhaul of their midfield. The club has already started the process after spending an initial £47 million to sign Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP during the January transfer window.

Fernandes made a positive impression on his debut during a 0-0 home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month:

Bruno Fernandes' Premier League debut for Man Utd against Wolves:

111 touches
88 passes attempted
70 passes attempted in opp. half
6 recoveries
5 shots
3 shots on target
3 clearances
2 tackles won
2 fouls won

A promising first outing at Old Trafford. 🏟 pic.twitter.com/y69ceIB6Rn

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 1, 2020

Grealish would add some much-needed flair, vision and trickery to Fernandes' industry. In the process, the England man may make it easier for United to part company with Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman wants to return to Juventus, according to his agent, Mino Raiola, per the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano. If Pogba moves on, United will need some artistry between the midfield and forward lines, a quality Grealish would naturally provide.

Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw believes the Red Devils are criticised unfairly when compared to other clubs, highlighting Arsenal as another team who are struggling without attracting similar scrutiny.

Speaking to the Mirror (h/t Goal), Shaw said amplified criticism is part of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world:

"I've had to have a thick skin. Sometimes it's easy for people to forget what I've actually been through.

"You need to have a thick skin to play football anywhere, but especially at the biggest club in the world here at United. Everyone's watching and wants to have a go whenever you lose.

"They're just waiting to criticise the moment anything goes wrong, but that's part and parcel of playing for United.

"No disrespect to Arsenal, who are a fantastic club, but they're not exactly having the greatest of seasons, and it's hardly mentioned.

"I find it quite funny that if it's United, everyone criticises, but Arsenal don't get a mention."

He went on to acknowledge the criticism is fair and that he and his team-mates have not been good enough this season. Shaw also said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can't keep defending them from the critics.

Both clubs came into the season with top-four ambitions in the Premier League but have fallen well short of expectations. The Red Devils sit in ninth place with 35 points, four ahead of the Gunners, who face Newcastle United on Sunday.

Arsenal have already changed managers this season, sacking Unai Emery for Mikel Arteta. According to ESPN FC's Mark Ogden, United fans would not be opposed to a change at the top, either:

https://twitter.com/SundaySupp/status/1228996646018723840

United have just nine wins in 25 Premier League outings and are winless in their last three matches. Solskjaer has been tasked with overhauling the squad and developing the youngsters, and while there have been encouraging signs from the likes of Daniel James, Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood, it hasn't been enough.

Things haven't been any better at the Emirates Stadium, with Arteta saying part of his focus is already on the upcoming summer transfer window, per Goal's Charles Watts:

Arteta on planning now for the summer transfer window: "Absolutely, we have to plan. I have to tell the club where I think we can improve."

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) February 14, 2020

The Gunners have just six wins in the Premier League and have drawn their last four matches.

Sporting CP vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha has said Manchester United were forced to match their €65 million (£54 million) valuation to purchase Bruno Fernandes but explained the Red Devils believed they could lower the asking price.

Zenha told Record (Liam Corless of the Manchester Evening News) United wanted to complete a €50 million (£41.5 million) swoop for the Portugal international. However, the Lions were successful in negotiating a higher price:

"I realised in the negotiations that Manchester United were convinced that we were going to give in and that for €50 million we would do the deal. Well, they ended up paying €65 million.

"I have no doubts. But they were wrong. And they ended up paying what we wanted. We got €20 million more than if we had sold four months ago."

Sporting (h/t Sport Witness) had published on January 29 a breakdown of the deal that took their captain to Old Trafford, including the significant add-ons United might pay:

Sporting have published the details of the Bruno Fernandes to #MUFC deal:

• €55m initial fee
• €5m after a number of appearances
• €5m for CL qualification
• €15m for individual objectives
• 10% of profit from future sale pic.twitter.com/GLtJwICMo8

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) January 29, 2020

Fernandes' Premier League move represented the costliest transfer of the January window, with United desperate to add quality as they chase a top-four finish.

The midfielder immediately impressed on his United debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 1. However, he couldn't influence a victory as the game ended goalless.

Sporting purchased Andraz Sporar as Fernandes' replacement after a prolific two-year spell for the Slovenian hitman at Slovan Bratislava.

Fernandes has been completing warm-weather training in Spain with his new team-mates during the Premier League's winter break, and United shared footage of their new signing practicing:

We can't take our eyes off this 👀 @B_Fernandes8 🎯 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/cuEqWPFJKw

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 15, 2020

It will be difficult for Fernandes to replicate his goals and assists record in England, with the tougher environment likely to reduce his numbers.

The midfielder scored 23 goals and assisted 15 times in Liga NOS and Europe last term, and United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be delighted if Fernandes gets close to this level of productivity.

United resume their campaign on Monday with a trip to Chelsea in the league, and Fernandes will be expected to start as he continues his introduction to Red Devils supporters.

Solskjaer's team remain six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and need to start making up the gap between themselves and the Blues.

Paul Scholes has said Paul Pogba wouldn't have been allowed to train alone at Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live (h/t TalkSport), Scholes said Ferguson might have taken a different course of action compared to current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian allowed Pogba to carry on his rehabilitation from an ankle injury on his own while United's squad travelled to Spain for warm-weather training. 

"I don't think it would've gone down very well [with Ferguson]," Scholes said. "Players seem to go off and do their own stuff now. When I was there, our manager wouldn't have allowed that type of thing to happen."

Pogba has spent time working on his fitness in Dubai and has kept fans updated with his regime via his Instagram account (h/t Goal):

The man to save Man Utd's season? 🤔

Paul Pogba is getting closer to a return... 💪

📽 Instagram: paulpogba pic.twitter.com/pEdlQoJNDR

— GOAL (@goal) February 8, 2020

The France international has suffered with numerous injuries this term, and the midfielder seems to break down every time he returns to the playing squad. Pogba required ankle surgery in January and has been working his way back to full health since.

Solskjaer has missed Pogba's world-class talent this season. The 26-year-old has made just five Premier League starts, and his absence has damaged the club's ambitions of making the top-four.

Bruno Fernandes was recruited during the January transfer window from Sporting CP, and the Portuguese international could now see United's midfield built around him rather than Pogba.

According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Pogba's agent Mino Raiola has said the player is interested in a transfer back to Juventus after Euro 2020:

Raiola: “Pogba to Juventus? Italy is like home for Paul. He’d like to come back to Juventus but we’ll see what will happen after the Euros. Pogba wants to play at the best level but he can’t escape by Man United if they’re in a difficult situation...” 🛑 #MUFC #Juve #Pogba

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 14, 2020

Per 5 Live, Scholes thinks one of Europe's big sides could swoop for Pogba, despite potentially having to pay a huge fee for his talent.

"Look, impossible things do not exist in the transfer market," Scholes said. "I think be it Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, or Barcelona, they always showed how nothing is impossible."

Pogba remains a figure who divides supporters, and while United continue with a rebuild that has now taken several years, Red Devils fans just crave to see their best players on the pitch.

The Frenchman is still one of the best in the game, but Solskjaer needs to create a starting XI that stays healthy and wins matches.

United are not near this objective. The club will have to wait until the summer to do essential business in order to be fully competitive.  

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said January signing Odion Ighalo is ready to make his Red Devils debut against Chelsea on Monday but the game will come too soon for Scott McTominay.

Ighalo made the shock move on loan from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua to the Premier League on transfer deadline day as cover for injured striker Marcus Rashford.

Solskjaer told reporters Ighalo will be in his matchday squad even though he has not trained with his new Manchester United team-mates yet:

"As a striker, you get thrown on out there and it might be he'll have to come off the bench and give us a goal. ... He'll be involved with us and travel down with us. Now he's out of that two-week period which was just a precaution we made, let's see if he's involved or not."

Ighalo agreed to stay away from Manchester United's training ground for two weeks after signing for the club because of concerns over the spread of coronavirus, according to Paul Hirst at The Times.

The new signing was also left out of the Manchester United squad for their warm weather training camp in Marbella. Ighalo has not played since December 6 but has been training "using a personalised fitness programme" in Manchester, per PA Media (h/t the Guardian).

The 30-year-old can expect to see some game time with Manchester United light on options in attack. He joins Anthony Martial and 18-year-old Mason Greenwood as the Red Devils' only fit senior forwards.

Ighalo has plenty of Premier League experience having spent three years at Watford. He scored on his Premier League debut in 2015 and went on to have a strong season before the goals dried up, as shown by Opta:

3 - Odion Ighalo has scored just three goals in his last 35 Premier League games, after 13 in his first 19 for Watford. Drop.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 19, 2017

The arrival of Ighalo and midfielder Bruno Fernandes has strengthened the Manchester United attack, although they remain without key midfielders McTominay and Paul Pogba.

McTominay has not played for Manchester United since Boxing Day because of a knee injury but is closing in on a return to action:

On the comeback trail 💪

The perfect dose of #MondayMotivation from @McTominay10, as he talks about his injury rehabilitation 😤#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 10, 2020

Defensive duo Axel Tuanzebe or Timothy Fosu-Mensah are also on the injured list, and Solskjaer offered an update on the club's absentees: "I don't think we'll get anyone back—Scotty, Axel, Tim didn't join in too much, and Paul isn't ready for us. How do you go about playing without Marcus or Scott? You deal with it. We've got players who have got a chance, who've had a great rest."

McTominay's absence means Fred and Nemanja Matic are likely to continue in midfield for Monday's trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Manchester United head into the match down in eighth place in the table, but a win will see them close the gap on Chelsea to three points and boost their hopes of finishing in the top four.

Erling Haaland has rubbished claims that a potential January transfer to Manchester United collapsed because the Red Devils refused to meet various conditions laid out by his father, Alf-Inge, and agent, Mino Raiola. 

The 19-year-old signed for Borussia Dortmund in January, where he has continued the breakneck scoring rate he set at Red Bull Salzburg:

Erling Haaland since joining Dortmund 🔥

Games: 3
Minutes: 152
Goals: 7 pic.twitter.com/sh7SaPQSRt

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) February 1, 2020

Salzburg's Erling Haaland has 27 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions this season.

He's 19 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ohfIgc7WY0

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 27, 2019

Along with numerous other top clubs like Juventus and Real Madrid, United were heavily linked with Haaland before his move to Germany and were thought to have an advantage because the striker played previously under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Molde.

Haaland has now said, though, that Dortmund seemed like the best option among his potential suitors, and he rejected the claim that a move to United collapsed because the club refused to meet demands over his future sale, per Viasport Fotball (h/t George Flood of the Evening Standard):

"Ole Gunnar has been very important in getting to where I am today, but we concluded that Dortmund was the best option for me. That was what I felt best about, and therefore it became Dortmund.

"No, it's [not true]...the guys writing would have to speak to that. They'll have to explain it to me if they meet me. It's not my focus, whatsoever. It's kinda comical if I were to get that label [of being greedy]. All the people closest to me know that's not the kind of person I am. It's really been kinda comical."

United could do with a player as prolific as Haaland at the moment.

Since top goalscorer Marcus Rashford picked up a back injury in January, the Red Devils have gone three consecutive matches in the Premier League without scoring a goal.

They will need to break that run on Monday when they visit Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea as it is potentially a must-win fixture for United to maintain their hopes of finishing the 2019-20 campaign in the top four:

Back 🔜 pic.twitter.com/kWwCYtQ9wn

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 12, 2020

Solskjaer's future as manager of the club could rest on whether he secures United UEFA Champions League football for next season.

If they lose to Chelsea, the gap to the qualification spots for Europe's elite tournament will stretch to nine points with just 12 games remaining in the campaign.

United do have an alternative route back to the Champions League. They will qualify if they win the UEFA Europa League, as they did in 2016-17.

Solskjaer's side are back in European action next Thursday when they take on Club Brugge in the first leg of their last-32 tie. 

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba would like to return to Juventus, according to his agent, Mino Raiola. 

Pogba has endured a difficult 2019-20 as injuries have restricted him to just five Premier League appearances for the Red Devils.

Per Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol, his exit from Old Trafford in the summer seems inevitable after he stayed put for another season despite saying last June "it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else."

Raiola has now said Pogba's future will be decided after UEFA Euro 2020, and a return to Juventus could be on the cards, per Italian football writer Fabrizio Romano:

"Pogba feels at home in Italy; Italy is like his second home or family, same feeling as [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic. That's why Paul would like to come back to Juventus. But we'll go to speak about that just after the Euro 2020. Pogba wants to play at the best levels always...but he can't escape by Manchester United now, in this moment where the club is not having a good period."

Pogba's contract at United runs to the end of the 2020-21 season, but the Manchester giants have an option to extend it by a further year.

Per Solhekol, the Red Devils valued Pogba at £150 million last summer.

It seems unlikely they will get any club to pay such a huge fee for him now, especially given that he has been sidelined for most of the 2019-20 campaign and blown hot and cold throughout his time at Old Trafford:

No doubting Pogba is a world class player - but he’s not been world class anywhere near enough for United. Both sides need to move on. He’s far from irreplaceable

— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) January 29, 2020

At the very least, though, United will still be eager to recoup the £89 million they spent on re-signing the France international from Juve in 2016.

All parties will likely benefit if Pogba returns to full fitness again before the end of the season and puts in some good performances.

According to the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel, the 26-year-old is hopeful of returning to outdoor training inside two weeks and could then be available to play soon after that.

If he returns by mid-March, he could have a crucial role to play in United's run-in.

Depending on how results go until then, particularly in Monday's visit to Chelsea, United's hopes of finishing in the top four could be slim by the time Pogba is back as a three-game winless run has seen them drop to eighth:

Back 🔜 pic.twitter.com/kWwCYtQ9wn

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 12, 2020

But the Frenchman could yet have a key role to play in United winning some silverware this term.

Their fifth-round clash against Derby County in the FA Cup is scheduled for March 5 after they return to UEFA Europa League action with their last-32 tie against Club Brugge.