Manchester United have reportedly identified Paris Saint-Germain star Blaise Matuidi as their plan B to Paul Pogba, if the midfielder turns down a return to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are confident of securing the signing of Pogba from Juventus, four years after he left for Turin on a free transfer, according to the Manchester Evening News.
But the 23-year-old may still hold a grudge against United over his departure, and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told Sky Sports that he favours a move to Real Madrid.
So United would be wise to have an alternative lined up, and the MEN understands that to be Matuidi, who has been playing alongside Pogba in France’s midfield at Euro 2016.
The 29-year-old only has two years left on his contract at PSG, whose signing of Grzegorz Krychowiak from Sevilla means that the French champions are well stocked in the centre of the park.
Matuidi and Pogba share the same agent – Mino Raiola – who has already helped engineer moves to United for his clients Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan this summer.
As Sky Sports reports, Jose Mourinho revealed at his first press conference as United manager this week that he wanted four signings – defender Eric Bailly makes it three at present.
His fourth is expected to be a leader in the middle of the park. If it is not Pogba, it appears as though it could be Matuidi, who has played 240 times for PSG, and 40 times for France.
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