City ready for Pogba deal after Barcelona pull out
The Daily Mirror are reporting that Manchester City have been put on alert by Barcelona pulling out of a big-money deal to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus. The La Liga side have been linked with a move for the Frenchman for a number of transfer windows now, but the price of the deal looks to have put them off.
Meanwhile, Manchester City look set for another big summer of spending with the arrival of Pep Guardiola. Barça were rumoured to have agreed a deal of around £85m with Juventus for Pogba, but their self-imposed “restrictions on spending” have made them change their minds on signing the French midfielder, and focus their efforts elsewhere.
The Blues have been linked with a number of midfielders since they announced the summer arrival of Guardiola on transfer deadline day, including Sergio Busquets. However, Pogba is one name who has been linked with City since he moved to Turin and became one of Europe’s dominating young midfielders, and there could be another bout of speculation coming up if these reports are to be believed.
Last summer, Pogba spent much of the time being linked with City and Barcelona, as well as Chelsea, but stayed put at Juventus, taking the #10 shirt. It was still believed he would move to Barcelona this coming summer, but that appears to be off the table. Now, the chance of being a central part of City’s team, and playing under Pep Guardiola, could be enough to persuade Pogba to move to The Etihad, four years after he left Manchester United.