Transfer Centre

Bayern Munich join race for Manchester United's Paul Pogba?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 12 May 2022

Bayern Munich reportedly join Juventus and Real Madrid in the race to sign Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba as a free agent this summer.

Bayern Munich have reportedly joined the list of clubs seeking to strike a deal for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba this summer.

The World Cup winner is running down the clock on the final two months of his Old Trafford contract and is expected to end his stint with the Red Devils for a second time next month.

While he has shown flashes of quality with 39 goals and 51 assists in 226 games for the Red Devils since his £94.5m return in 2016, Pogba has struggled to impress on a consistent basis under a number of managers.

The 29-year-old is also expected to miss the remainder of the season through the calf problem he picked up against Liverpool, which will seemingly prove to be his final game in a Man United shirt.

Despite his injury woes, Pogba will end the season with one goal and nine assists from 27 matches in all tournaments and will not be short of offers as he prepares to leave as a free agent.

Paul Pogba warms up for Manchester United on April 9, 2022 © Reuters

Juventus continue to be strongly linked with a move for their former player, who won four Serie A titles and registered 34 goals and 40 assists in 178 games for the Old Lady between 2012 and 2016.

Massimiliano Allegri's side have reportedly tabled a £160k-per-week contract offer to the Frenchman in the hopes of luring him back to Turin, while Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain continue to be linked.

Now, Fichajes claims that Bayern are also keeping a close eye on developments surrounding Pogba's future and have now emerged as one of the favourites to secure his signature.

Manchester City were also thought to have been interested in a move for the soon-to-be free agent, but Pogba is understood to have turned down the chance to play for the Premier League champions.

Furthermore, foreign clubs have the advantage of being able to hold talks with Pogba now, while Premier League teams must wait until the end of the season to enter negotiations.

Manchester United's Paul Pogba during the warm up before the match, November 2, 2021 © Reuters

Pogba will not be the only midfielder to exit Man United ahead of Erik ten Hag's arrival, with Nemanja Matic already confirming that he will be moving on at the end of the campaign.

Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard are also set to leave when their current terms expire, leading the Red Devils to target at least one midfield signing before the 2022-23 season commences.

Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona is thought to be high on United's wishlist, but Jude Bellingham, Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice have allegedly all rejected moves to the Theatre of Dreams.

Already condemned to a season without Champions League football, Ralf Rangnick leads Man United out for the final time this season away to Crystal Palace on May 22.