Paul Pogba Reportedly Issues January Exit Ultimatum over Jose Mourinho

Manchester United star Paul Pogba will reportedly leave the club in January if manager Jose Mourinho is still in charge. 

According to The Sun's Neil Custis, the Frenchman has said as much to his team-mates as he "cannot be bothered to argue with" Mourinho any longer.

The midfielder is said to be "embarrassed at being played in formations and with tactics that none of the team can get to grips with." 

Pogba "is so concerned that he has actually told ­people close to him he is ­better off not playing in a Mourinho team."

The Frenchman's reaction to being questioned after United lost 3-1 to West Ham United on Saturday did little to paint a picture of harmony behind the scenes, as the Guardian's Jacob Steinberg noted:

Pogba was withdrawn from the match after 70 minutes following a poor performance, though Mourinho's decision to deploy midfielder Scott McTominay at centre-back—with Eric Bailly on the bench—was just as much to blame for the defeat.

Bleacher Report's Rob Blanchette was puzzled by the move:

ESPN FC's Alex Shaw also questioned Mourinho's team selection and called for the manager to be relieved of his duties:

The Special One is under serious pressure at Old Trafford now. His United side are winless in three matches, nine points behind bitter rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, and they're already out of the Carabao Cup.

That leaves the FA Cup as the only silverware they have a realistic chance of winning this season unless they drop into the UEFA Europa League, and if results don't immediately improve Pogba may get his supposed wish of Mourinho leaving.

The Frenchman isn't blameless either. While Mourinho's tactics have an impact on Pogba and his team-mates' performances, he also bears some responsibility for playing within himself at times.

Whatever happens with his form and Mourinho, though, Pogba isn't likely to be leaving in January. 

Few teams have the resources to pay what the Red Devils would likely want for him, not to mention his wages, and despite his inconsistent form he's key to United's fortunes and a midseason sale would do them few favours.