Paul Pogba on the Move? Here’s the Latest Transfer Rumours

Another week has passed and another glut of transfers have been completed, along with another batch of hearsay to sift through. It’s been a good week for the Premier League, though, with a few big names departing other leagues to join English football. We’re going to start with some of the finalised deals before we move onto the murkier domain of blatant speculation.

Done Deals:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Free Agent -> Manchester United

Sadio Mane: Southampton FC -> Liverpool FC (£30m)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Borussia Dortmund -> Manchester United FC (£26m)

Nampalys Mendy: FC Nice -> Leicester City FC (Undisclosed)

Grzegorz Krychowiak: Sevilla FC -> Paris Saint Germain FC ( €26m)

Michy Batshuayi: Olympique de Marseille -> Chelsea FC (£30m)

Victor Wanyama: Southampton FC -> Tottenham Hotspur FC (£12m)

Breel Embolo: FC Basel -> FC Schalke 04 (£21m)

Takuma Asano: Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC -> Arsenal FC

Dani Alves: FC Barcelona -> Juventus FC (Free)

Liverpool have bolstered their attack with the signing of wide forward Sadio Mane from Southampton FC this past week. A move is likely for Christian Benteke for a similar fee to what Liverpool paid for Mane, if it ends up being a financial straight trade for the two Liverpool have definitely done good business. The most interesting transfer though is the arrival of Nampalys “Papy” Mendy at Leicester City. He’s a central midfielder much in the mold of N’Golo Kante, whose future has been a point of speculation after the incredible season he enjoyed. The signing of Mendy doesn’t necessarily mean Kante will leave, but it certainly opens up the possibility as Kante would command a significant fee that Leicester could use to reinforce other areas of their squad.

Dani Alves

Possible Moves:

Paul Pogba: Juventus FC -> Real Madrid CF/Manchester United FC

Leonardo Bonucci: Juventus FC -> Manchester City FC

The most significant transfer story of the momentis the supposed growing interest from Europe’s elite clubs in Paul Pogba’s services. His agent, interestingly, is Mino Raiola, another “super agent” that also happens to have Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan as two of his other clients. The link between those two newly signed Manchester United players has caused people to talk up a return to Old Trafford, but Real Madrid are also thought to be willing to break the bank to secure the Frenchman’s services. Skysports have recently announced that Raiola will be approaching Juventus with an offer from United for Pogba as soon as the Euros have concluded. Expect Real Madrid to put up a fight and a potential bidding war to ensue, but the writing seems to be on the wall that Pogba will be plying his trade outside of Italy when August arrives.

Another Juventus man, center back Leonardo Bonucci, declined an offer from Manchester City earlier this week. The Blues apparently bid £38m pounds for the Italian but had their interest rebuffed. Bonucci is one of the best in his position, so while the initial offer may have been declined it’s possible City will return with an improved one.

Paul Pogba

Speculation:

Christian Benteke: Liverpool FC -> Crystal Palace FC

Romelu Lukaku: Everton FC -> Arsenal FC

John Stones: Everton FC -> Manchester City FC

Nemanja Matic: Chelsea FC -> Juventus FC

Juan Mata: Manchester United FC -> Everton FC

Alvaro Morata: Real Madrid CF -> Arsenal FC/Chelsea FC

After Jamie Vardy’s rather surprising decision to stay with Leicester despite an attempt from Arsenal to sign him the Gunners are searching elsewhere for strikers. One of the possibilities they’re allegedly exploring is Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku. Everton have changed managers recently, and generally if players are unsure of their future under as a result of a managerial change they’re more open to entertaining offers from other clubs.

The 2016 summer transfer window has been impressive so far, but it appears as though it’s going to get a little more interesting shortly. The transfer saga that everyone’s been paying attention to may finally reach a conclusion in the next fortnight, the main question is: Will Paul Pogba’s future be in sunny Madrid or rainy Manchester?

Christian Benteke

More sports features to keep you busy:

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Super Rugby 2016: 5 Key Transfers You Need to Know About

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