Man Utd to swap Paul Pogba for Gareth Bale? Pundit backs Red Devils to 'make a statement'

Posted Wednesday, April 03, 2019 by Dailystar.co.uk

Man Utd to swap Paul Pogba for Gareth Bale? Pundit backs Red Devils to 'make a statement'
Could Paul Pogba and Gareth Bale both be on the move this summer? (Pic: GETTY)

MANCHESTER UNITED may consider the possibility of swapping Paul Pogba for Gareth Bale but a deal is unlikely to happen.

That’s the view of ESPN pundit Craig Burley, who feels United will have several concerns about prising Bale away from Real Madrid.

Pogba has been strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford in recent months and speculation has only increased with Zinedine Zidane openly admitting he likes the midfielder ‘a lot’.

Bale has also been mooted to be on the move in the summer with United long-term admirers of the talented Welshman.

However, Burley feels United will hold firm in any potential swoop Madrid make with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer making it clear he wants to build his team around the World Cup winner.

“Well off the back of some comments on international duty which has stoked the fire if there’s a swap deal here between Pogba and Bale I think that potentially may happen,” former Chelsea midfielder Burley told ESPN.

“I think United will try and make a statement and say ‘we’re rebuilding, we want to be the top dogs again and we’re not selling our best player.’

Pressed on whether he thinks United will pursue Bale, Burley added: “Two or three years a go I would have said very high and I think they tried to get him.

“30 years old and carrying some injuries and a big transfer fee if it’s not a swap and I don’t think it will be and some big wages and some injury concerns - I don’t think so.

“I like him but I don’t think so.”

Bale is under contract with Madrid until 2022.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer insists he has no fears Pogba will seek a move away from the club at the end of the season.

“No, [those comments don’t] really concern me because my thought of action then is to sit down and speak to Paul and I’ve had my chat with Paul and we’re fine,” the Norwegian said.

“He’s going to do his utmost here because he knows I’m very fond of him as a player and a person and he is important for us. There is no issue.”

“I don’t like to talk about other teams’ players, of course, but this is another challenge with international breaks.

“Players are available all the time [to the media] as well and it’s a different environment, a general talk.

“Paul is a very nice and polite man who answered a general question about Zidane, who is an icon in France and a fantastic manager.

“He used to be a fantastic player and he’s just politely answered that question. But Paul’s happy here, he’s going to be a big part [here]. I’ve said before you like to build your team round him and that hasn’t changed at all.”