Paul Pogba urged to be more like this Manchester United star if he is to reach the next level

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Former Liverpool star Stan Collymore has urged Paul Pogba to be more like his Manchester United team-mate Alexis Sanchez if he is to reach the next level.

The France international became the most expensive player in the world when he left Juventus for United last season, according to BBC Sport‘s report at the time, but has arguably not yet lived up to that price tag.

Pogba’s fee has since been eclipsed by Neymar and others, but Collymore believes the 24-year-old has it in him to become one of the best players in the world within the next few years.

The pundit believes Pogba is good enough to be up there with Neymar as the next superstar to replace Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but needs to take a leaf out of Sanchez’s book first.

The Chile international joined United from Arsenal this January and is known for being one of the hardest working players in the Premier League.

Collymore still feels Pogba lacks that same consistent level in every game, but says if he can add that he has what it takes to be one of the best.

‘The one thing Sanchez will do for whatever team he’s in is graft and put in a shift. You are pretty much guaranteed to get 90 minutes of effort out of him,’ Collymore wrote in the Daily Mirror.

‘Pogba was sensational, for example, in the Europa League final last season. But at times he is either a nine out of ten or a five or six out of ten.

‘What United need —not this season. Forget this season as the Premier League is gone, but next season — is everybody playing at the kind of intensity Sanchez will if they are to make a title tilt.

‘One of the questions about Pogba and whether he will realise his enormous potential is: Is he a nine or ten out of ten on the effort scale, week-in, week-out? I humbly suggest that he isn’t.

Paul Pogba needs to be more like Alexis Sanchez, says Stan Collymore
Alexis Sanchez joined Manchester United from Arsenal in January

‘If he had Sanchez’s drive over 90 minutes, he arguably becomes the next big thing in world football.

‘People talk about Neymar being the one after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have dominated over the last decade, but Pogba has everything to dominate a match from central midfield.

‘He provides goals, passes and is an old fashioned, dominant central midfielder. But he is either a nine out of ten or a five out ten.

‘He needs to find that consistency, and Sanchez will be setting the example at Old Trafford.’

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