Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Nani and Paul Pogba Rumours

It did appear that Nani's Manchester United career was over after the winger departed for Sporting Lisbon on loan with a view to a permanent switch.

But it now seems the Portugal international is in line for a surprise return to his parent club after the player revealed the Red Devils want him back.

Vaishali Bhardwaj of Metro quotes Nani speaking to BT Sport about his immediate future and declaring a return to United is now on the cards with Louis van Gaal as the new manager:

"

I just need someone to believe in me, trust me and my qualities, and give me an opportunity to show them on the pitch. 

It’s an experience I wanted a lot and needed as well because the last two seasons at Manchester United I had so many injuries and I was very upset with a lot of things that happened to me.

I was missing my family and friends and I wanted something new. The only opportunity I had to be happy, and Manchester United to be happy as well, was this one.

"

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

Nani has performed superbly on his return to Portuguese football, and he has found the net for Sporting Lisbon on a regular basis.

The player has featured 20 times for his loan club in both the Primeira Liga and the Champions League, and he has recorded seven goals during this period, per WhoScored.com.

His form has surprised many, but the negativity surrounding his United career has evaporated, allowing the attacker to once again find his best game.

Paulo Duarte/Associated Press

United have suffered in the wide areas for a number of seasons, and Nani has been a major part of the issues surrounding this element.

So it will be wholly ironic and comical if Van Gaal's solution to his problem is a player who has consistently failed in a United shirt for a number of seasons.

However, Nani once did show the kind of promise many felt was inside of him, and he is a former United Player of the Year. 

But injury stopped the winger's long-term progression, and he has operated around the periphery of the Red Devils squad for a long period.

Ian Herbert of The Independent predicted Nani could return to United in his column back in November.

Herbert explained Nani's salary is outside of Portuguese football's capabilities, meaning LvG would have to find another buyer if he did not want the player back:

"

Nani commands a salary of €5 million (£3.95 million), paid for by United, during his season’s work at the Portuguese club—a sum which is more than a quarter of Sporting’s entire budget for player acquisitions and wages.

Though he has started very strongly in his loan period and has become the outstanding player in the Portuguese League, Sporting’s financial position rules out any prospect of them making his loan permanent.

"

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

In other news, the noise around a potential move by United for former midfielder Paul Pogba is building.

Simon Mullock of the Daily Mirror says United will go head-to-head with rivals Chelsea and Manchester City for the French international's signature, with a £75 million bid in the pipeline.

Pogba's agent Mino Raiola has publicly spoken out about his client and has not ruled out a move back to England after the current campaign, per Mullock: "Paul is happy at Juventus but later this year or next year we will see what opportunities have been created. When the league [Serie A] cannot satisfy such a player then it is time to go."

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

Pogba has already developed into a world-class entity, and everyone at United knew it was only a matter of time before this happened.

We will never truly know what happened behind the closed doors of Carrington between the player and Sir Alex Ferguson, but the manager held the midfielder back, and it pushed Pogba towards the exit.

Fergie had all of the experience in the world at handling young talent but something went catastrophically wrong with the 21-year-old.

If United can get the player back now—even for the quoted price—they should. Pogba is certain to become one of the best players on the planet, and he has unfinished business to attend to in the colours of Manchester United.