Man Utd Identify Pogba's Replacement Who Is Also Zidane's Target At Real Madrid: Report

Manchester United are planning life without Paul Pogba as The Red Devils reportedly have identified Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga as the star player’s replacement.

Man Utd would rival Real Madrid in the race to sign 17-year-old Camavinga, as reported by Spanish news outlet Diario AS. Camavinga’s current deal with Rennes is due to expire in 2022 and as per the Spanish report, the young forward has refused to sign an extension.

Pogba, who has admitted that it is his 'dream' to play for Real Madrid, has only one year left in his current deal with Man Utd. The Old Trafford side has the option to extend the deal with another year, which is expected to happen because Man Utd would not want Pogba to leave as a free agent. The 27-year-old Frenchman was Man Utd’s record-signing as he moved from Juventus to Man Utd at a transfer fee of $116 million in the summer of 2016.

Since Pogba’s departure sooner or later looks inevitable, Man Utd have already shortlisted Pogba’s compatriot Camavinga to be his long-term replacement in Man Utd’s midfield. The Rennes teenage sensation is considered among the most promising soccer players at present. Camavinga made his first-team debut in 2018, becoming the club’s youngest ever debutant at 16-years-old. He managed to make seven senior appearances for the French club before playing a full-fledged season in the 2019-20 campaign, where he played 36 competitive matches and also registered his maiden competitive goal that came against Lyon in a Ligue 1 match.

The Diario AS report has also stated that Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has been an admirer of Camavinga and on his insistence, the La Liga club had already begun talks with the Rennes player’s representatives. The other clubs that are interested in acquiring the services of Camvinga are Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Juventus.

During the recently ended summer transfer window, Camavinga’s agent Mousa Sissoko sent a message to the Santiago Bernabeu club, saying he cannot assure that Camavinga will remain available within a year because of the financial crisis infused by the coronavirus pandemic, as per the Diario AS report.

By refusing to sign a new deal with Rennes, Camavinga has sent out a clear message saying, he is available to move away from the Ligue 1 side. With Pogba’s possible departure to Real Madrid, Man Utd would do anything to land Real Madrid’s target - Camavinga - at Old Trafford.