Paul Pogba: Manchester United have made 'no contact', claims Juventus director general

The France international is United's primary transfer target this summer

Saturday 16 July 2016 11:06

Pogba is United's primary transfer target this summer

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Juventus claim that they have received “no contact” from Manchester United over the prospective transfer of Paul Pogba.

The France international is United’s primary transfer target this summer, following the signings of Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Pogba is thought to be open to the possibility of returning to Old Trafford, despite leaving the club in search of first-team football as an 18-year-old in 2012.

However, Beppe Marotta, Juventus’ director general, cooled speculation on Friday by telling Sportitalia: “There has been no contact.”

Marotta's comments contradict reports that United have already begun negotiations with the Serie A club and suggest that there is some way to go before any potential deal is completed.

According to reports in the Spanish press, Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, wants his client’s future to be resolved by the end of July.

Manchester United summer transfer targets

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1/8Manchester United summer transfer targets

United want to spend £35m on Perisic but Inter are holding out for closer to £50m. That said, Mourinho is a big fan and may be willing to go the extra mile to get him. Likelihood: 7/10

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Sanches was being chased by United before deciding on Bayern Munich last summer but is back on their radar again 12 months later. He is available for £43m and Ancelotti has admitted United are "a possibility".

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An extremely versatile player Mourinho sees him more as a defensive midfielder and could be used to give Paul Pogba, last summer's big addition, more freedom. Monaco aren't in any rush to lose any more first team stars this summer though and are likely to demand a hefty fee. Likelihood: 7/10

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United have already had a bid less than £25m rejected for the defensive midfielder and know they must more than double it to have any hope of signing Dier, who is understood to want the move.

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Nemanja Matic has twice worked under Jose Mourinho before and he wants to make it a third time at United. However, after beating Chelsea to Romelu Lukaku, relations between the two clubs have been soured somewhat.

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The Real Madrid forward would be a marquee signing, the type that the Manchester United boardroom are keen to make, and The Independent has been told by sources from both United and Madrid that a deal is 'much likelier' than ever before. The player himself though is happy in the Spanish capital. Likelihood: 5/10

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Mourinho is a huge admirer of Willian, who he signed in 2013 while at Chelsea. The pair won a Premier League title and League Cup double together the following year and it is believed that the United manager will do his best to sign the player, who has not been a regular starter in Antonio Conte’s system. Whether Chelsea will allow him to leave, particularly to join Mourinho at their rivals is yet to be seen. Likelihood: 4/10

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Another of Europe’s most promising players, Belotti is fast becoming well-known after his outstanding performances at Torino, where he has scored 37 goals in 64 appearances since 2015. His best years are still ahead of him aged just 23, which contributes to the incredible €100m release clause, applicable only to clubs outside of Italy, negotiated into his contract. Torino are in no hurry to sell and will drive a hard bargain with any deal likely to start at upwards of £70m. Likelihood: 7/10

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The 23-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Real Madrid, is currently on holiday in Los Angeles, recovering from France’s defeat in the European Championships final last Sunday.

If Pogba does leave Juventus, it is expected that the club would demand a world record transfer fee of approximately £100m.

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