Paul Pogba to Manchester United: Jose Mourinho prepared to break world transfer record for Juventus midfielder

United have coveted Pogba, 23, after they allowed the Frenchman to leave for free in 2012

Paul Pogba is a transfer target for Manchester United (Getty)

Jose Mourinho has reportedly informed the Manchester United hierarchy that he considers a move for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba to be essential to his summer plans.

The 52-year-old officially got to work at Carrington on Monday where he is likely to have discussed further transfer business with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward after already completing the signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly.

United have long coveted Pogba, 23, after Sir Alex Ferguson allowed the Frenchman to leave on a free transfer in 2012 but, according to the Daily Telegraph, they are now prepared to make him the most expensive player in the world.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City are also keen admirers of Pogba’s ability but United hope their financial clout – being willing to break the world transfer record – will see them triumph before the end of the transfer window.

The current transfer record was set by Real Madrid who spent £86m to take Wales’ Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu. Ibrahimovic recently signed on a free transfer while the arrivals of Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan – set to be announced this week - for a reported combined total of £65m have further bolstered the United squad.

Pogba remains the top target for Mourinho, however, whose reputation within the footballing world could be enough to prise the Frenchman away from Juventus.

Meanwhile, Blaise Matuidi, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, has reportedly been allowed to temporarily leave duty with France at Euro 2016 for talks with United.

The 29-year-old has helped the Parisian giants lift four consecutive Ligue 1 titles since 2012, scoring 19 goals in 165 appearances, attracting interest from across the continent.