Manchester United are monitoring AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur midfielders Franck Kessie and Tanguy Ndombele as potential replacements for Paul Pogba, per Calciomercato.
Pogba has nine-months left on his contract at Old Trafford and is considering a future away from the Premier League. The Times report the World Cup winner’s agent, Mino Raiola, has stated he still holds an affection for Juventus and there is a chance that he returns to Turin.
Reports by Defensa Central also claim Paris Saint-Germain want the 28-year-old, but expect him to join Real Madrid. While the Daily Star note Pogba wants £500k-a-week to sign a new deal with Manchester United, and would expect the same at Juventus, PSG or Los Blancos.
Manchester United are still discussing a new contract with Pogba, but are also monitoring AC Milan’s Kessie and Tottenham’s Ndombele. The Red Devils do not want to be left short in case the midfielder decides to reject all proposed terms.
Kessie could replace Pogba at Old Trafford without a transfer fee with the Ivorian also out of contract in June. The Rossoneri have offered the 24-year-old new terms worth a net €6.5m-a/y (£107k-p/w), but he wants €8m-a/y (£131k-a/w), per Gazzetta dello Sport.
Manchester United are not alone in tracking Kessie’s situation at the San Siro, either. Juve Live report Juventus and Tottenham also want him, with Fabio Paratici eager to sign the 48-cap international. Kessie could also leave Milan in January if he does not sign a contract.
Kessie joining Tottenham from Milan could free Ndombele to replace Pogba at Manchester United instead, then. Handing Nuno Espirito Santo a ready-made replacement for a player the Evening Standard note had asked to leave this summer.
Should Tottenham let Ndombele replace Pogba at Manchester United and sign Kessie?
Tottenham were not against selling Ndombele after he asked to leave this summer, but it remains to be seen how willing the north London outfit are to let the Frenchman replace his compatriot, Pogba, at Manchester United, should the Red Devils pursue his services.
The Evening Standard add Spurs were optimistic they could sell their £54m record-signing this summer when he asked to go. But ultimately decided to keep Ndombele on Deadline Day as no offer would be considered sufficient.
Paratici also discussed including Ndombele as part of Tottenham’s deal with Barcelona for Emerson Royal, per Fabrizio Romano. But the Blaugrana rejected including the Frenchman, who only made his first Premier League appearance of the season on Sunday.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
