Chelsea Transfer News: Paul Pogba Rejected £62m Blues Transfer, Top Rumours

Paul Pogba sensationally turned down a £62 million transfer to Chelsea this summer, despite Juventus prepared to sell at the price. 

Italian publication Gazzetta Dello Sport (h/t Frank Leach of the Mail Online) reported the Serie A champions had settled on an amount for the sale of the French superstar—but the player pulled the plug on the deal. 

The 22-year-old met with his agent Mino Raiola to discuss the potential transfer, per Leach, but opted to remain in Turin as the club goes through a transitional period of rebuilding after the sales of Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal.

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Leach also says Pogba's decision led to the collapse of John Obi Mikel's transfer to Besiktas, with Jose Mourinho blocking the player's exit from west London. 

Mourinho is said to have personally involved himself in trying to lure Pogba, "pleading" with the player to join the Blues, as reported by French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t James Cambridge of the Express.)

Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta has recently spoken out about the value of Pogba to the Old Lady, hinting the cited £62 million will not be enough in future transfer windows, per Neil McLeman of the Mirror:

"

We decided to keep Pogba despite significant offers from foreign clubs. In future, he will be worth over €100 million. 

I’ve noticed how the Premier League has become richer, and we’ve seen clubs buying players for what would have been crazy prices until recently, but are very normal today. 

If Pogba continues his performance of last season, I think next year, €100 million will not suffice.

"

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Pogba has made 78 appearances for his club in the past two seasons in Serie A and Europe, according to WhoScored.com, scoring 16 times and providing 14 assists from central midfield. Chelsea have looked sluggish in midfield at the start of the campaign, and the Pogba revelations could indicate why the Special One desired a new top-class central operator. 

However, the Mirror's David Anderson believes Chelsea never stood a chance of capturing Pogba despite the huge fee, as the player has his heart on joining the champions of Spain and Europe:

Pogba will continue to be one of the most wanted players on the planet, but Chelsea's staleness in midfield will need to be addressed internally by their host of talented operators. 

Pedro Snubbed United After Conversation

For weeks it seemed Pedro was only heading to one club, with Manchester United in pole position to grab the attacker. However, in-depth conversations with Red Devils goalkeeper Victor Valdes appear to have swung the advantage to the Stamford Bridge outfit.

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Pedro said he consulted his former Barcelona colleague before opting to snub United for Chelsea, admitting he has not been impressed with the way his good friend has been treated by Louis van Gaal, per Tony Banks of the Express:

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It's true that I don't like to see my team-mates treated in this way, especially Victor, who has always been a great friend to me and a top professional. 

I don't think it's fair, but it didn't influence my decision. I saw that United had not taken the next step in signing me and I needed a team to start the season with. 

Chelsea were very decisive. I am convinced I have chosen well.

I spoke a lot with Victor. He said it was a very good club with great fans and that the only problem he had was the situation with his coach.

"

The 28-year-old has had an immediate impact for the champions, grabbing a goal and an assist in his first two Premier League outings, per WhoScored.

After the news that Pogba snubbed Mourinho, it is no surprise the Chelsea boss moved decisively for an attacking midfielder he knows well from his days in La Liga. 

Chelsea's core are in flux at present, with John Terry out of favour and Cesc Fabregas looking a shadow of himself. Pogba would have brought an effervescence to the Blues midfield this term, and Mourinho might well have predicted a slump in the early months.

Most of Chelsea's brilliance comes from the midfield department—and if Mourinho feels he is not going to get goals from Eden Hazard, he needed to recruit a player like Pogba who adds balance. 

But for now, Pogba to Stamford Bridge is just a dream—and if Barca become involved in the next transfer window, it is likely the Blues have missed their chance.