Man Utd willing to hand 'one-year contract' to free agent with club keen on 'bonus-based' salary
Man Utd reportedly have their sight set on a World Cup winning midfielder
Premier League giants Manchester United are reportedly planning a shock move to re-sign Paul Pogba for a third time as they respond to an avalanche of injury issues in the midfield area.
The Red Devils are currently without youngster Kobbie Mainoo with a calf problem and are also missing former Chelsea star Mason Mount, who has struggled with a series of setbacks since arriving from Stamford Bridge.
Christian Eriksen, who is expected to leave Old Trafford upon the expiration of his contract in the summer, has also struggled for form while youngster Toby Collyer is also injured after showing promise in the early months of Ruben Amorim’s reign.
United are currently a shadow of the team that they have been in recent seasons - and as it stands are on course for their worst league finish of the Premier League era - and their darkest campaign since their relegation from the top-flight in 1974.
Reports in Spain from Fichajes claim that Amorim is scouring the market for short-term options to give his team a lift and to inject a fresh sense of energy and enthusiasm into the middle of the park.
Man Utd consider cut-price Paul Pogba deal
With the January transfer window now closed, United are reported to be assessing the free agent market for their talented players that can rejuvenate their season on a short-term basis.
The report Fichajes claims that Paul Pogba is under consideration by the United hierarchy as they aim to offer the Frenchman a career lifeline after returning from a doping ban. The positive test resulted in the termination of his contract at Juventus. United are said to be considering offering the 2018 World Cup winner a short-term one-year contract which includes a lower salary than expected, with a bonus-based structure, which could increase Pogba's salary depending on his performances. It is a move that would carry less risk.
However, the overall deal would still represent a risk to the Red Devils given Pogba’s lack of game time in recent years, with his last appearance for Juventus coming way back in September 2023 when he made a brief cameo appearance off the bench during a 2-0 Serie A victory over Empoli. In fact since leaving United, Pogba has only played 12 professional matches, while only starting one league game during the entirety of his second spell with the Old Lady.
Should Man Utd sign Paul Pogba for a third time?
Paul Pogba came through the ranks at Manchester United and made just three league appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson before ultimately turning down a new contract. He signed for Juventus on a free transfer in 2012 and made 178 appearances in total while establishing himself as one of the top midfielders in world football. He lifted four league titles, two Coppa Italians and two Supercoppa Italiana trophies during his first spell at Juventus and was part of a team which also reached the Champions League final in 2015.
Pogba returned to Old Trafford for a then world record fee of £89.3m in 2016 - marking one of the most talked about moves of the last decade at United. The Frenchman struggled with consistency and injuries for large periods of his stay at the lcub but was able to lift the Europa League and Carabao Cup under Jose Mourinho. He also made the PFA Team of the Year in 2018/19 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and sporadically showed glimpses of his incredible quality.
If they can get Pogba at this best then United will have landed an incredible coup by bringing the Frenchman home, however, given his long-running list of injuries, his lack of first team action - and his failure to deliver consistently across his previous spell in a Red Devils shirt it would present a huge risk for Amorim and his team.