Manchester United are prepared to lose Paul Pogba for free next summer after accepting the midfielder will not sign a new contract at Old Trafford.
The France international, who cost a then-world-record £89.1 million when he signed from Juventus in August 2016, will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of June 2022. He has consistently rejected United's offer of a new deal at the club.
However, despite the prospect of the player running down his United contract for a second time: United were awarded £800,000 in youth development compensation when Pogba left as a free agent to Juve in 2012, sources have said there is no alarm or concern at Old Trafford about the likelihood of the 28-year-old leaving for no fee.
Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have previously expressed an interest in Pogba, but none of them is planning to make a move for the player in January, preferring instead to negotiate a free-agent deal next summer. United factored in the likelihood of Pogba leaving as a free agent at the end of his contract when they agreed his transfer fee and wages five years ago.
Although the club could raise a fee for Pogba by offloading him in the January transfer window, sources have said that United's owners, the Glazer family, are relaxed about the possibility of missing out on a transfer fee, having decided that the benefits of having the player available for the final six months of the season outweigh the potential financial boost of moving him on in January.
United have made repeated efforts to persuade Pogba to sign a new contract, but senior figures have believed since the end of last season that it was unlikely that he would commit to new terms, with plans already being made to strengthen the midfield without him next summer. Pogba will miss United's next three Premier League fixtures, against Tottenham, Manchester City and Watford, after he was sent off for a foul on Naby Keita during Sunday's 5-0 defeat against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
The midfielder had been dropped to the bench by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for United's last two fixtures, against Liverpool and Atalanta, but sources have said that Pogba remains a valued member of the first-team squad and that there is no rift between the player and the manager.
Teamkenya.co.ke looks at three midfielders United could make a play for in January if it's clear Pogba has his heart set on a summer exit :
Franck Kessie :
United could pursue a cut-price deal for AC Milan midfielder Frank Kessie, who impressed at Old Trafford in last season's Europa League. He is out of contract on the same date as Pogba and could discuss a free transfer in January, but the Red Devils could negotiate an instant arrival for a fee.
Kessie is a tireless, tough-tackling box-to-box midfielder - three traits that could see him thrive in England. The 24-year-old registered 14 goals and six assists last season and will be the centre of mass interest if he becomes a free agent at the end of the current campaign.
Aurelien Tchouameni :
United could push the boat out and try to beat other suitors to Pogba's France teammate, Aurelien Tchouameni. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder has risen to stardom for AS Monaco and his national team in recent years. He played a starring role in France's recent UEFA Nations League win alongside Pogba in Didier Deschamps' midfield. But the tenacious star could be put off if he knows his fellow countryman is exiting the door as soon as he enters.
Youri Tielemans :
Alright, this one's unrealistic given his form this season and importance to Leicester City, but Youri Tielemans could be the perfect fit. The Belgian ace was linked to United before joining Leicester and has flourished into one of the Premier League's best midfielders. Brendan Rodgers reportedly has admirers at Old Trafford and if he was to succeed Solskjaer in the hot seat, he could tempt Tielemans with a mid-season move. But considering Leicester's involvement in Europe and high top-flight aspirations, it would surely take an astronomical fee to lure him away.