Man United Secretly Planning To Replace Pogba With 'Creative Midfielder,' Transfer Insiders Say

Manchester United might have secretly orchestrated a fallback plan for Paul Pogba’s potential departure, transfer insiders have suggested.

The rumors linking Pogba to a move away from Old Trafford continue to swirl in the English Premier League. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, renowned transfer insiders Ian McGarry and Duncan Castles made a shocking revelation regarding what they have learned about the World Cup winner.

McGarry said, citing unnamed sources and ex-Manchester United players, that the Red Devils have long been expecting Pogba to leave and tagged Donny van de Beek as a replacement.

“I have been told, and it has been speculated as well by some ex-Manchester United players, that the reason that [Donny] Van de Beek (is still there) was that they expected Paul Pogba to leave Old Trafford,” McGarry said on a recent “Transfer Window” podcast episode.

“So Van de Beek, as a creative midfielder who could play flexibly at six, eight or 10, would be a good replacement for Pogba, who of course didn’t leave and now Van de Beek has been left effectively on the bench,” he continued.

McGarry’s podcast co-host and another famed transfer insider, Castles, also bared that Manchester United is also recruiting credible candidates from outside the club to fill the void Pogba's potential exit would create.

Castles also revealed that the Frenchman, at the moment, is looking at Real Madrid as a possible destination. It can be recalled that Pogba once said he dreams of playing for the Spanish club one day.

“Paul Pogba wants to leave,” Castles said. “Whether he will get that move is another matter. But he would like to go to Real Madrid.”

“However, Manchester United are looking for a new midfielder,” he continued. “They’re looking for a player who can play as a No 6 and also play as a box-to-box No 8. So if Pogba goes, there will be more competition for a place.”

Prior to McGarry and Castles’ claims, Pogba’s return to Juventus was believed to be already being worked out by his agent, Mino Raiola.

Addressing the midfield star’s situation once again, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted that Pogba “enjoys” playing for his side and “discussions” are already being held between both parties.

"I think everyone in the team and Paul [Pogba] included are just focused on doing as well as we can this season," Solskjaer told Sky Sports ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester City last week. "I don't think any energy would be used on the speculation.”

"Of course, we've got discussions and talks,” he added. “When you see Paul playing like he did against Milan, when you see him come back training, it shows how much he cares for us and how much he enjoys playing and how much we can benefit from having him here.”