Real Madrid are reportedly still interested in signing Paul Pogba from Manchester United and could offer James Rodriguez in an exchange deal. Pogba has been tracked by Madrid over the last year or so, with the French midfielder apparently unsettled at United and looking for a move away from Manchester.
According to El Desmarque (via Metro), Real Madrid President Florentino Perez is keen on letting go of the Colombian, who hasn’t had a good season so far at the Spanish club, to finally bring Pogba to Spain. The report states that Madrid could be interested in bringing Pogba in the January transfer window but United may not part with the Frenchman in the middle of a difficult season.
Madrid are also interested in signing Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen and Wolves’ Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves according to the report.
Pogba has just two years remaining on his current deal at Old Trafford, but if reports are to be believed, he will most likely not be at United for that period. The Frenchman is currently out with an injury and has featured in only 6 games this season.
James Rodriguez: Why United should go ahead with the deal
If the rumblings over the last 6 months are true, it seems that Paul Pogba’s head has been turned by the interest shown by Real Madrid in his signature. The 26-year-old was spotted talking to Zinedine Zidane recently when Pogba was in the Middle East recuperating from his injury.
Madrid are keen on signing him and it seems that the player is equally interested in moving away from Old Trafford. United, who are going in a new direction with under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, where they have tried to play fluent, quick football, need players that fit in that system. United’s squad depth is very poor at the moment, and they have looked weak in midfield, especially in creative areas.
That’s why a deal to sign James Rodriguez could be a good one as United have lacked players who can create for attackers like Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Daniel James. Solskjaer has played a 4-2-3-1 system, where a quality No. 10 is vital, a player who can stitch midfield and attack, and release the quick players ahead of him.
Rodriguez has the vision, dribbling ability and technique to unlock defences and he would make the players ahead of him much more potent. United’s current attacking midfielders – Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira, don’t seem to have what it requires to excel in the No. 10 role anymore, which is why a player like Rodriguez would make for a good signing, while at the same time replacing a player who might not be prepared to put his all for the cause at Old Trafford.