Paul Pogba to Manchester United is inching closer but Sky Italy is reporting a major snag is holding up the deal.
According to Sky Italy, Juventus and Manchester United are still disputing the transfer fee for Pogba, 23, with United offering $120 million for the French international midfielder with add-ons but Juve want over $130 million plus another $13 million in add-ons.
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However, the major point of contention isn’t the transfer fee: it is the fee paid to Pogba’s agent.
Pogba has been seen laughing and joking on vacation in Miami with his agent, Mino Raiola, but it is believed that deal is being held up due to the teams not agreeing on who should pay the reported agent fee of up to $22 million. No wonder Raiola is having a good time...
Until someone steps down, the fee is waived or another solution is reached, it seems like an impasse has been reached in the Pogba deal. Even though Juve sealed the $98.7 million transfer of Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli on Tuesday which would suggest they are expecting to receive some very serious cash very soon.
With Jose Mourinho talking about other players available to United, maybe they will instead move for Blaise Matuidi who would deliver defensive solidity as well as marauding runs from midfield. He’d be much cheaper and even though he’s six years older than Pogba, is the asking price from Juve and the agents fee just getting a bit too insane even for a club as rich as United?
With Napoli all but sealing star striker Higuain to Juventus, another player could be leaving the side who finished second in Serie A last season: Kalidou Koulibaly.
According to his agent, via RMC, Koulibaly is apparently leaving Napoli this summer. Both Everton and Chelsea have been linked with a move for the powerful central defender and the Senegal international is certainly capable of slotting straight into either team.
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Chelsea have John Terry, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic and Matt Miazga as central defensive options, plus Kurt Zouma who is continuing his comeback from a horrific knee injury suffered against Manchester United last season. As for Everton, they have Phil Jagielka, Ramiero Funes Mori and John Stones. The latter has been linked with a move to Manchester City this summer so Ronald Koeman is said to be on the lookout for another central defender as Jagielka is now 32 and was riddled by injuries last term.
Koulibaly, 25, would cost in excess of $60 million if he was to move from Napoli which could be a huge stumbling block as Napoli look to make it difficult for him to leave.
