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Paul Pogba has been named in Manchester United’s squad for the pre-season tour of Australia, Singapore and China.
The midfielder’s Old Trafford future is in doubt after he admitted last month his desire for a “new challenge”, with Real Madrid and Juventus interested in his services.
Whereas most United players returned to pre-season training last week, Pogba was in New York, having been granted extra holiday by manger Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
On Friday, Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola told The Times that he is “in the process” of negotiating his client’s departure, though United remain adamant he will not be sold.
And despite United’s confidence that Pogba would be part of their pre-season travelling party, Raiola refused to confirm the 26-year-old would travel.
Show all 26 1 /26Manchester United: Keep or sell? Manchester United: Keep or sell? Who will Manchester United keep this summer? It has been a rollercoaster season for Manchester United leaving Ole Gunnar solskjaer with key decisions to make over who should stay and who should leave this summer
Man Utd via Getty Images
Manchester United: Keep or sell? David De Gea Form is temporary, class is permanent. Riddled with errors of late but remains United’s most important player, even when in the last year of his contract. Keep
Action Images via Reuters
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Sergio Romero A reserve goalkeeper yet says everything about United’s recruitment that he is one of the better signings of the post-Ferguson era. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Lee Grant Third-choice, veteran goalkeeper whose home-grown status means he helps to meet squad requirements for European competition. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Ashley Young Set to spend a third straight season at right-back, having signed a new contract, yet surely cannot be the automatic first-choice. Sell, yet likely to stay
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Diogo Dalot Some glimpses of promise but the jury’s still out. At 20-years-old, clearly still raw, though needs to perform more consistently when handed opportunities. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Antonio Valencia Solskjaer recently confirmed for the first time that club captain Valencia’s contract would not be renewed come the end of the season. Sell
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Luke Shaw After several years of treading water at Old Trafford, Shaw has been a quiet success story of an otherwise forgettable season. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Chris Smalling Will be United’s longest-serving player when Valencia departs. Signed a new contract. A new centre-back should make him compete for his place. Keep as cover, for now. Keep as cover, for now
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Phil Jones Another survivor of the Ferguson era. Comes in for an undue amount of criticism, but his longstanding injury problems and inconsistency undermine his case to stay. Sell, yet likely to stay
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Victor Lindelof A contender for United’s player of the year alongside Shaw, though form of autumn and winter has tailed off. Keep
REUTERS
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Eric Bailly A defender with raw gifts but a questionable injury record. Seemingly unfancied by Solskjaer. Close to outgoing Spanish-speakers like Herrera and Mata. Keep as cover, for now
EPA
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Marcos Rojo Has played a pitiful amount of football since renewing terms last year. Offers nothing while out for long periods of time for unspecified reasons. Sell
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Matteo Darmian Surprise starter against City, United have attempted to offload Darmian for several windows now. Should finally cut ties this summer. Sell
EPA
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Nemanja Matic Increasingly appears as if holding midfielder’s best days are behind him. Currently first-choice in an area of the pitch where United must improve. Sell
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Fred United’s fourth-most expensive signing of all time has suffered a difficult first year. Questions remain over his ability, despite a handful of competent showings. Keep, for now
Action Images via Reuters
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Scott McTominay Recently emerged as a useful squad player in the mould of Darren Fletcher of late. Questions remain over long-term place but deserving of more opportunities. Keep
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Paul Pogba An enigma. Important commercially and has the natural ability to dominate on-the-pitch too but inconsistent. Real Madrid’s interest is no secret. Keep, only sell for record money
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Andreas Pereira Yet another to have signed new terms, yet has rarely taken opportunities granted to him. Sell, but likely to stay
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Ander Herrera Expected to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. A player who clearly ‘gets’ the club but fresh, younger alternatives would be welcome. Release
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Alexis Sanchez A symbol of the club’s poor decision-making and arguably its least successful transfer of the modern era. Astronomical wages may prohibit a sale. Sell, if possible
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Manchester United: Keep or sell? Juan Mata Edging closer to the exit door, with no new contract signed. Perhaps too languid for Solskjaer's ideal style of play. Like Herrera, a young alternative would be preferable. Release
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Jesse Lingard A regular target for criticism but also an academy product who has earned his current status at Old Trafford. Needs to rediscover match-winning ability of last season. Keep
AP
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Anthony Martial Valid questions remain over whether he will reach his potential, though natural ability is clear. Having just signed until 2024, he is likely to stay around for a while yet. Keep
REUTERS
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Romelu Lukaku A better player than his time at United suggests. If Solskjaer can fit him into a coherent system, he should stay. If not, hard to see him as a substitute. Keep, but sell at right price
EPA
Manchester United: Keep or sell? Marcus Rashford One of the few players United fans would be disappointed to lose. Contract talks are ongoing, with current deal effectively set to expire in two years. Keep
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However, United named Pogba in their 28-man tour squad on Sunday morning, ahead of their flight to Perth later that day.
Fred and Matteo Darmian are the only available first-team players not included in the squad. Both will join up later due to personal matters.
New signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James are named among the travelling party, as are youngsters Mason Greenwood, James Garner, Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong.
Axel Tuanzebe, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa and recently signed a new three-year contract, is also included.
United begin their tour against Perth Glory and Leeds United in Australia, before taking on Internazionale in Singapore and Tottenham Hotspur in Shanghai.
Full squad Goalkeepers: De Gea, Grant, Pereira, Romero.
Defenders: Bailly, Dalot, Jones, Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Shaw, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Wan-Bissaka, Young.
Midfielders: Andreas, Chong, Garner, Gomes, James, Lingard, Matic, McTominay, Pogba, Mata.
Forwards: Greenwood, Lukaku, Martial, Rashford.
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