Juventus Prepare To Challenge PSG In Signing Manchester United's $59M Star: Report

Juventus are reportedly preparing to challenge Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the race to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United this summer.

While Manchester United are eager to retain Pogba, if the player decides to leave, the club has labeled Pogba at an asking price of $59 million, reported Italian publication Calcio Mercato.

After failing to win the Serie A last season, Juventus are looking to bolster their squad and new manager Massimiliano Allegri precisely wants to strengthen his midfield. Juventus now want to re-sign Pogba, who is believed to have turned down an extension with Manchester United.

While PSG have been heavily linked with Pogba over the last few weeks, it was recently reported that the French midfielder was also offered to Liverpool FC. However, the Reds have informed Pogba's agent Mino Raiola that signing the player right now is out of the question but they will be interested in absorbing him in January when the player could be signed on a free transfer.

There have also been rumors about Manchester United seeing Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez as an ideal replacement for Pogba. It has been reported that the Red Devils contacted the Spanish midfielder's agents over a possible move to Manchester ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Pogba, who has just one year left on his current contract with Manchester United, has not formally rejected an extension with the club but wants to take time to make a final decision, according to The Telegraph. The 28-year-old midfielder is set to start the 2021-22 season at Manchester United next week before taking a call on his future ahead of the closing of the 2021 summer transfer window across Europe next month.

The Frenchman recently featured in France's Euros 2020 campaign, where he scored a goal and assisted another in as many as four appearances. The World Champions' run was cut short after suffering a shocking defeat to Switzerland in the Round of 16.

Pogba joined the youth academy of Manchester United in 2009. He rose through the ranks before making his senior debut with the club during the 2011-12 season. He made just seven senior appearances for the Red Devils before switching to Juventus, where Pogba flourished and came into the limelight. He netted 34 goals and 40 assists in 178 appearances, across all competitions for Juventus.

Manchester United re-signed Pogba in the summer of 2016 on a five-year contract for a then-record transfer fee at $125 million plus bonuses of $7 million, surpassing the former record holder Gareth Bale.