His next contract is likely to be a four to five year deal, as his final big contract. Pogba was fantastic against Leeds, but individually brilliant games was never his issue; it was consistency and where he fit into our plan. When all our forwards are back, he’s in midfield and then the age old question of can you play him in a three with Bruno re-emerge.
He’s 100% a player I would keep, but not at any cost. He is definitely replaceable. Personally I would not want to give a 29 year old Pogba a 4-5 year contract on 500-600k a week, which is probably what it would take. You’re paying him that until he is 33-34. Aside from destroying your age structure, we have no idea how well he is going to age.
It will be a blow to lose him, but I don’t think people are prepared for the problems that will come if we give him a massive 4-5 year deal. If the move is about money, he is surely gone. If it’s about enjoying his football and being part of something exciting, then I’d say we have a decent chance in keeping him.
One thing that must always define United is that no player is bigger than the club, and we conduct ourselves with decorum. If it wasn’t for Covid then I am sure he would have been moved on already for a few. We should be pretty ruthless with players who won’t sign an extension when they have two years left on their contract, and sell them. No matter how good. It’s the only way to set a standard and fireproof us against the inevitable tide of players running down contracts that is to come.