Manchester United Transfer News: Neymar Reportedly Contacts Paul Pogba over Move

Paris Saint-Germain maestro Neymar has reportedly been in contact with out-of-form Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, encouraging the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner to join him in the French capital.

Goal's Bruno Andrade wrote that Neymar was in touch with Pogba during September to discuss his chances of moving.

Speculation is rife that Pogba and manager Jose Mourinho are at loggerheads, illustrated by the latter stripping the former of the club's vice-captaincy earlier in the season.

Andrade acknowledged that PSG are under investigation by UEFA for the signings of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, but that isn't thought to have put them off from making a move for Pogba.

Neymar's campaigning to sign Pogba only carries so much weight, though. As powerful as PSG have become in the transfer market over the past five years, not even his talents can create capital where there is none, per journalist Julien Laurens (h/t BBC Sport's Shamoon Hafez):

Qatari-owned PSG's issue isn't in raising the funds necessary to sign Pogba but more to do with falling in line with UEFA's financial fair play regulations, ensuring their outgoing costs are balanced out by their generated revenue.

The squad could desperately do with his services in central midfield too, after Javier Pastore left the club this past summer and Thiago Motta retired. Adrien Rabiot's deal, meanwhile, expires at the end of this season.

After winning the World Cup with France and playing a leading role in that squad, the stars almost seemed to align for Pogba to move back to the country of birth. 

Barcelona have also been touted as suitors, but the Telegraph's Sam Wallace provided more evidence to suggest a bid for the midfielder is beyond their means:

Having a player such as Neymar bend your ear must be flattering, but Pogba is known to have a fondness for United and undoubtedly holds a great affection for the club despite any disharmony with his manager.

Opinion is divided among the fans; many believe Mourinho has inhibited this United team and that his handling of Pogba is the perfect illustration of that, as one supporter told BBC 5 Live Sport:

Others have suggested the player is too big for his boots and needs to be shown the United exit for the second time:

A move to sign Pogba would once again underline PSG's status as the biggest spenders in football, although a January transfer is seen as highly unlikely—no matter how convincing the Brazil international can be. 

Next summer is a different matter, however. And PSG's poster child seems to be laying the foundations now in the hopes he can help bring a France favourite to Paris.