Chelsea Transfer News: Paul Pogba Tipped to Move Amid Barcelona Rumours

France national team manager and former Juventus star Didier Deschamps is sure Paul Pogba will leave the club in the future, but he denies he was the reason the powerful midfielder elected to stay in Turin last summer, amid strong rumours linking him with Chelsea and Barcelona.

Deschamps—who spent a large part of his playing career with the Italian giants and led them back to Serie A as manager in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal—was asked about Pogba's current situation and his future during a recent interview with Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia).

Asked about the ongoing transfer rumours, he said:

"

You people have him changing teams every day, he could have changed last summer, but it never got started. I’ve also heard that it was down to me, but no, it was his personal choice.

He’ll surely leave one day, at a certain point, but I don’t know when.

A great player can play where he wants, Italy, Spain, England…

"

Pogba has been frequently linked with moves to Chelsea and Barcelona, per the Daily Express' Joe Short, with recent reports claiming the France international has already agreed to a deal with the Catalans, who couldn't bring him to La Liga last summer due to their transfer embargo.

The player's agent Mino Raiola denied those rumours in an interview with Radio Deejay (h/t Football Italia), but the rumour mill will continue to churn out stories, particularly now the Blaugrana's transfer embargo is over.

Juventus handed Pogba the legendary No. 10 shirt during the summer, a clear sign they were planning to build their squad around the talented youngster following the departures of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez.

The 22-year-old struggled dealing with the increased responsibility early, but he has turned the corner of late and once again looks like a future Ballon d'Or winner.

Deschamps still believes he shouldn't have been given the number, however, due to his playing style and position on the pitch:

"

The number was free, and I don’t know who made the decision.

The important thing is for Paul not to change his game. He’s a great player, he’s young and off the field the people, the young lads, like him for the way he dresses, the look the hair…

They talk about it, for better or for worse. He’s a great player, if he does well on the pitch he can do other things. The only truth is on the pitch.

I know he’s not a number 10, not a second striker, and I always leave him the freedom to go forward [with France], but a midfielder has to do defensive work.

"

The number was a symbolic gesture and a clear message to other clubs the Bianconeri will fight tooth and nail to keep hold of the talented midfielder. But a transfer at some point in the future still seems almost inevitable, and Deschamps' comments only underline that.

The 47-year-old is still very highly regarded in Turin, both for what he did as a player and a manager. In the same Tuttosport interview (h/t Football Italia), he called his decision to leave Juventus an “error” and refused to rule out a return to Turin.

Deschamps practically bleeds Juventus, and yet even he admits the Bianconeri won't be able to keep Pogba at the club forever. The 22-year-old is set to star for France at UEFA Euro 2016, and if he makes a strong impression on home soil, he could very well leave the Italians next summer.

As of right now, Barcelona remain the favourites for his signature. Raiola may have denied the existence of a pre-existing deal, but all of the talk regarding a mutual interest from both parties has to come from somewhere, and Barcelona will have to replace the legendary Andres Iniesta at some point.

The Catalans have both the prestige and budget to sway Pogba into joining and Juventus into selling, with clubs like Paris Saint-Germain perhaps lacking the former. The French champions will undoubtedly also be in the mix once Pogba makes it clear he's ready to leave Turin, and PSG can offer Pogba heaps of cash, as well as the chance to star in his hometown and become a national hero.

Chelsea will also be massive players when the time comes, and backed by the Premier League's new TV deal, they'll have the finances to blow just about any offer out of the water, per the BBC.

Beating Barcelona in the transfer market may be tricky, but if the Blues really want to land Pogba, they'll have the funds to make him the kind of offer that will be almost impossible to refuse.

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