Manchester United are interested in entering in a swap deal for Paul Pogba involving Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt with players reportedly in search of greener pastures.
20-year-old Matthijs de Ligt joined the Italian league leaders in a £75m deal from Ajax but has since failed to replicate his extraordinary form last season that saw him drive Ajax into the Champions League semi final along with the other boys of Ajax’s golden generation.
The Netherlands international has so far struggled to adjust himself to life in Serie A since his move from Ajax and could be ready to embark on another adventure this summer if United come calling again.
Paul Pogba, on the other hand has just one year left on his current contract and has been heavily linked to a move away from Old Trafford. Although there is a scope for extension for another year in his deal, it seems unlikely given the extension makes very little sense for either parties.
According to a report in the Sun which claims that given the present economic circumstances and Pogba’s rampant loss in market value, Manchester United chief’s would metaphorically jump at the chance of landing one of the highly sought after centre backs in the market in exchange for the disgruntled and lackadaisical French Midfielder.
Report also states that the Juventus defender actually prefers a move to England rather than heading to Real Madrid who are also keenly interested in securing his services. Real Madrid where previously close to agreeing a deal for the former Ajax defender in the summer as well and now have another chance on their hands to get things done.
Meanwhile with Fred, Matic and Bruno Fernandes who arrived from Sporting CP in January, it seems inevitable that United will see the back of Paul Pogba in the summer and its only a question of what they can garner in return. Sun have also put in another very intelligent estimation in the works here by coming up with the fact that an economic recession will mean loss of transfer value hence voila – a swap deal for both players in valuation of around £30 Million give or take.
Full marks to them for their acumen, what they have conveniently missed out here is the fact that Matthijs De Ligt has not been sulking in the dressing room or bench or swapping one glorious hairstyle after another in consequent days for the last four years. He is and still will be on one of the most sought after defenders on the planet given his age, and his inability to justify a hefty price in six months is nothing compared to Pogba’s three and a half years.
De Ligt’s problems or lack of accustomizations has stemmed from the fact that he has been thrust into the spotlight way before he should have been. A struggling 20 year old thrust into the deep end, does that seem so absurd and obnoxious that Juventus would look to slice up their business dealing in half by shipping him off in just a season, eight months rather. If Pogba is valued at £30 Million according to Sun, there is no way that Matthijs de Ligt is worth that as well.
If United really are looking to do the tango with Juventus for Matthijs De Ligt, they will need a lot more than Sun’s market valuation and Paul Pogba’s showbiz skills to come back home after a happy shopping session in Turin given that they actually manage to blow off Real Madrid or Barcelona to the chase.
