Manchester United: 4 central midfielders for Mourinho to target

Toni Kross, Paul Pogba during the UEFA EURO semi final match between Germany and France at Stade Velodrome on July 7, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Toni Kross, Paul Pogba during the UEFA EURO semi final match between Germany and France at Stade Velodrome on July 7, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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BOLOGNA, ITALY - 2016/02/19: Juventus's midfielder Paul Pogba (R) vies with Bologna's midfielder Amadou Diawara during the Italian Serie A football match between Bologna FC v Juventus FC . The Italian Serie A football match between Bologna FC v Juventus FC, ends 0-0 at Dall'Ara Stadium in Bologna. (Photo by Andrea Spinelli/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
BOLOGNA, ITALY – 2016/02/19: Juventus’s midfielder Paul Pogba (R) vies with Bologna’s midfielder Amadou Diawara during the Italian Serie A football match between Bologna FC v Juventus FC . The Italian Serie A football match between Bologna FC v Juventus FC, ends 0-0 at Dall’Ara Stadium in Bologna. (Photo by Andrea Spinelli/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Paul Pogba

The initial plan was to put Pogba first in this sequence to get him out-of-the-way because it’d be silly to assume someone of his stature to move for so much money.

But, Manchester United. And Pogba hasn’t been particularly shy in the media about it, either. He was asked by ESPN about what he’d do if Mourinho called, and this is what he had to say:

“My response would be ‘I don’t know.’ I don’t know when,” said Pogba. “We will see. For the moment, I am here [Juventus] and I am happy here. I don’t know where I want to go.”

Stop being a flirt, Pogba.

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The fee would be around £100 million which sounds like a lot because it is a lot. He’s just 23, though. It’s realistic to imagine him ending his prime around 33, yeah? If he were to be signed for that figure, amortize it in your head as like spending £10million every summer for the next decade. It’s like football’s version of a mortgage or an investment.

Pogba is beginning to convert his preternatural ability into tangible end product. Last season, he equaled his largest ever goal tally, 9 in all competitions and 8 in Serie A. Looking beyond, he one more shot per game than he ever had in his career, 3.5 attempts at goal a match last season. For someone of his ability if he keeps that rate up, he’ll certainly crack double digits no problem.

What’s more impressive is his assists took a huge leap last season. He had 14 assists in all competitions last season, up from just 6 the season prior.

Pogba might just make United title favorites next year if he joins.