Internet Desk: Manchester United are on the brink of re-signing Paul Pogba from Juventus in a world record £89m deal. United will pay 105m euros for Pogba and performance-related bonuses and other costs could see that figure rise.
The midfielder will have a medical in the next few days with the deal due to be completed in midweek. The 23-year-old, who left United for £1.5m in 2012, is set to return for a fee that surpasses Gareth Bale’s £85m move to Real Madrid in 2013.
The Old Trafford club still have to agree personal terms with the France midfielder, although that is expected to be a formality. Pogba’s imminent medical was announced just over 90 minutes before Sunday’s Community Shield, which United won 2-1 against Leicester.
Boss Jose Mourinho said after the game at Wembley that United is the “perfect” club and the Premier League is the best stage for Pogba. In four seasons in Turin, Pogba, who helped France reach the Euro 2016 final, won four league titles.
He is Mourinho’s fourth signing at United, after Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. It is the first time in 20 years an English club will have paid a world record fee.
Newcastle United were the last to do so when they spent £15m signing England striker Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers. Pogba joined United from French club Le Havre in 2009 as a 16-year-old, but made just a handful of appearances before his contract expired in July 2012.
He has made 178 appearances for Juventus, scoring 34 goals, and helped the club reach the 2015 Champions League final. The Serie A side had offered him a new contract, while Real Madrid were also interested in signing him.
Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, also represents striker Ibrahimovic, who signed for United on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain, and midfielder Mkhitaryan, who joined from Borussia Dortmund.