Manchester United Transfer News: Paul Pogba, Bastian Schweinsteiger Rumours

Talks between Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba are at a “critical stage,” with a £110 million deal for the player said to be edging closer to completion.

That's according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, who noted the Red Devils are looking to get the transfer over the line before August. Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, reportedly flew out to Miami to meet his client and “discuss the finer details” of a move.

With Juventus said to be closing in on Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain in a £78 million transfer, according to Jones, there is a “general acceptance” Pogba will be allowed to leave Turin should the Red Devils meet Juve’s asking price.

The transfer saga has been a long-running one, but it seems it’s set to come to a close shortly. Here is a look at why so many United supporters are excited about the prospect of the France international returning to Old Trafford:

Pogba has made major strides since he departed United in 2012, going on to become one of the standout players in Italian football and one of the most highly rated prospects in Europe. Even so, former team-mate and Red Devils icon Paul Scholes is unsure whether he’s worth the aforementioned sum.

“For that sort of money, you want someone who is going to score 50 goals a season like [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi,” Scholes told Dipesh Agarwal of Sport Witness. “Pogba is nowhere worth that kind of money yet.”

Indeed, as noted by Bleacher Report UK, should these deals go ahead, Juventus would still be in a strong position next term:

United would be much better off with Pogba in the side. Manager Jose Mourinho looks to balance physicality and quality on the ball with his teams, two areas in which the Frenchman excels. Pogba could be the player around whom this process takes place, having been too good for many Serie A opponents to handle down the years.

What United will want to do is get this move secured as quickly as possible. Should Pogba transfer for a world-record sum, there will be enormous pressure on him to perform. Therefore, the more time he has to integrate himself into the squad and acclimatise to these expectations as a United player, the better.

Bastian Schweinsteiger Exit Rumours

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According to David McDonnell of the Sunday Mirror, Bastian Schweinsteiger is set to leave Manchester United after just one year with the club.

“Mourinho has admitted several of his current squad will be offloaded before the season gets under way next month, and the 31-year-old former Bayern Munich midfielder is set to head that exodus,” McDonnell said.

Schweinsteiger only started 13 games in the Premier League last term, as injury issues prevented him from living up to the hype created by his summer move from Bayern Munich. Despite his popularity among the Old Trafford crowd, should Pogba come in, it’s difficult to see the Germany international getting regular minutes under Mourinho.

Even so, sports journalist Liam Canning is unsure whether the Red Devils should be looking to sell the veteran:

In his appearances for the team last season, Schweinsteiger did show his quality. At times, the former Bayern man seemed to be on a different level to other players on the pitch, able to distribute the ball with ease, find space and defend with aggression. It was just a shame these were isolated spells in a disappointing campaign.

Mourinho will want his midfield players to be combative and physical against opponents. Schweinsteiger would have been a perfect linchpin for this kind of side in his younger days, although he’s not shown the consistent fitness required to do so in the Premier League.