5 pros & cons of Pogba's United return

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  • The biggest transfer saga of the summer may be coming to an end as Paul Pogba’s move from Juventus to Manchester United appears imminent.

    The proposed fee in the region of £100 million has been a major talking point while the midfielder’s quality is undeniable.

    Here, we look at five pros and cons of what would be a world record transfer for United.

    PROS

    MIDFIELD VOID WOULD FINALLY BE FILLED

    Despite the silverware the club has won over the last decade or so, their midfield hasn’t been truly imposing for a sustained period since the duo of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane. For one season, Owen Hargreaves supported Scholes along with Michael Carrick and won the Champions League in 2008.

    However, his battles with injury, Scholes’ deteriorating mobility and Anderson’s failure to mature into the finished article saw Carrick desperately attempt to plug the gaps by himself since. Pogba is the complete midfielder and would finally put an end to the team’s prolonged struggle in that position.

    MAKES UNITED SERIOUS PREMIER LEAGUE CONTENDERS

    Jose Mourinho’s appointment and his three signings since bode well for Manchester United and their objectives for the upcoming campaign. But Pogba’s return to Old Trafford would be a complete game-changer.

    The Frenchman’s introduction strengthens the side significantly and takes them from being a team to watch in the title race to one of the standout favourites.

    HE’S ONE OF THE MOST MARKETABALE PLAYERS

    The football fraternity has understandably gawked at the reported fee for the midfielder. However, Pogba’s marketing potential must be factored into the equation as well. Adidas will be salivating at the prospect of having the popular 23 year-old take the lead in ad campaigns.

    His shirt sales alone will go a long way towards paying off his exorbitant fee. United may be shelling out a huge chunk of cash but the returns would be palpable as well. Also, the club’s turnover is far superior to that of most of their competitors. Basically, they can afford it.

    HIS QUALITY WOULD BENEFIT THE FORWARDS

    Dwight Yorke told Sport360 this week that Pogba’s acquisition could bring out the best in Wayne Rooney and the former United striker certainly has a point.

    Rooney not only won’t have to feature in midfield anymore but his habit of dropping deep to pick up the ball and get involved can be curbed, allowing him to focus on the action in the final third.

    The same goes for the other attackers as well. United have some lethal forwards in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. Pogba’s creativity and vision will do them a world of good as will his ability to make supporting runs from midfield.

    A POTENTIAL MIDFIELD LEGEND

    At only 23, Pogba wouldn’t just be a sensational game-changing purchase, he’d also be an investment. His arrival is bound to see other world-class midfielders get attracted to the club. Under the right circumstances he could just go on to be United’s lynchpin in midfield for years to come.

    That’s because he’s quite simply the best there is. There’s no evidence of weakness in his game. He’s got the pace, physique, touch, passing, tackling and goalscoring of what can only be described as the perfect hybrid football player.

    CONS

    OVERPRICED

    Yes, he’s incredibly marketable and the shirt sales will be phenomenally lucrative but whichever way you want to look at it, United would be spending over the top.

    He can’t be valued at £20 million more than the likes of Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo (yet). Many will point to Juventus’ £75 million splurge on a 29 year-old Gonzalo Higuain but an inordinate fee cannot be justified simply by the existence of a ludicrous one.

    AN UNNECESSARY LUXURY?

    Pogba is the crème de la crème of midfielders which begs the question; is he really what United need right now? Even under Mourinho, the Red Devils are still a team in transition. What good is the icing if the cake is under-cooked?

    It seems as if a midfielder with great mobility, dynamism and energy would’ve served the purpose at this juncture. Perhaps someone like N’Golo Kante, Renato Sanches or Blaise Matuidi; all three would’ve represented better bargains.

    OPENS UNITED TO RIDICULE

    A couple of years ago, Chelsea (under Mourinho) were condemned for paying a huge fee for Nemanja Matic after selling him off to Benfica on the cheap. There’s no reason why United should escape such ridicule.

    Even if Pogba goes on to become everything he’s primed to, that little factoid will always remain a blemish on his relationship with the club.

    THE CLUB WILL ALWAYS OVERPAY

    United have to look at the bigger picture as well. In the past, deals for the likes of Eden Hazard and Lucas Moura fell through because the administration then would not wholly give in to demands.

    Now, the club have fallen into the habit of overpaying for players whether it’s a future superstar in Martial or a last ditched swoop in Marouane Fellaini. But once they pay eight figures for Pogba, there’s no coming back from that.

    NO GUARANTEE IN THE LONG-TERM

    The biggest danger and possibly greatest fear from United’s point of view is history repeating itself and Pogba turning his back on the club again. What if the Mourinho era doesn’t live up to its billing and the club doesn’t match the Frenchman’s ambition?

    There’s every chance that his head will be turned, most likely by interest from Spain. United could keep him at the club against his will but there’s really no winners in a situation like that.

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