Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera Rumours

Barcelona look set to beat Manchester City to the signing of Juventus superstar Paul Pogba, with reports suggesting the Frenchman will move to the Camp Nou once the Catalan giant's transfer embargo ends.

John Richardson of the Express writes Barca and Juve have "cleared the path" for the huge transfer to take place next summer as the Spanish club looks to acquire the most wanted central midfielder on the planet.

City are said to be unwilling to match the Old Lady's £70 million-plus valuation of the player, per Richardson, pushing the Blaugrana to the front of the queue. 

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City have been keen on Pogba's talents for some time, with manager Manuel Pellegrini commenting, per Richardson: "He’s a good player, a young player and has a good future. There were a lot of rumours but I don’t talk about them. Close or not close, he’s not here.”

The Sun (h/t Independent's Simon Rice) claimed in August a deal to take Pogba to Chelsea was close, even though a summer move never seemed likely after the Serie A champions lost primary midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. 

However, it seems Barca are now the front-runners, offering Pogba one of the biggest stages in world football to ply is trade.

The 22-year-old has been a dynamic force for Juve since his capture from Manchester United, and his progression between 2012 and 2015 has been stunning. 

Pogba started 77 times in the Italian league during that period, per WhoScored.com, netting 20 times and providing 10 assists. This is only the tip of the iceberg for a player who has the ability to become the best player on the planet, as he matures and gains experience. 

Pogba has recently tried to play down links speculating his departure from Turin, saying he is content to stay with Juventus, as reported by Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News:

"

Why would I not stay? I didn’t have any motive to go, it wasn’t the right time. It was never clear that I would leave, and there’s no reason I can’t continue here for longer; let’s see. I am at Juventus, I am only thinking about Juventus, but I do not know for how long. We will do this year and then see how things go.

"

The player's fee might reach world-record standards by the time Pogba actually leaves Italy, with the Premier League's richest happy to gazump the Spaniards.

The French international would perfectly fit Barca's cultured midfield, but signing for the Camp Nou club might force Pogba to take a back seat to Lionel Messi and Neymar, forcing the talent to play a more conventional central-midfield role—a facet which is not a strength of his. 

Barca Interested In Ander Herrera

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After a strange 12 months at Old Trafford, where Ander Herrera has gone from major signing to fourth-choice central midfielder, reports suggest Barcelona might be interested in bringing the player back to Spain. 

Gregg Bakowski of the Guardian speculates both the Blaugrana and Valencia are tracking the United player, who has failed to nail down a starting role in manager Louis van Gaal's side.

United purchased Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin in the summer—two midfielders who fit LvG's philosophy much closer than Herrera—with defensive acumen to their armoury. 

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Herrera is much more a Barca player than he is a United one, but he would surely not come cheap despite his lack of success in Manchester. 

However, the 26-year-old looks effervescent in a United shirt, and will be given time to fully settle. Last season the player scored six goals from his 19 Premier League starting appearances, and Van Gaal now uses him as an auxiliary No. 10, scoring against Liverpool on Sunday.

Journalist Jacqui Oatley questioned Herrera's bravery in the recent north-west derby, commenting on his lack of physical verve:

Herrera has the fingerprint of a Barcelona player, and he would be cheaper and better suited than Pogba. However, he is not in the same category of potential as the Frenchman, neither having the physique nor presence of the Juve prodigy. 

But Ander would find life at the Camp Nou agreeable, with the team's shape and tactical approach well within his capabilities. 

If coach Luis Enrique wants a player who has the typical DNA of a Spanish midfielder, he need look no further than the United star.