Manchester United: ‘Happy’ Paul Pogba could extend his Old Trafford stay

After a turbulent past few seasons, Paul Pogba could finally decide against moving away from United this summer.

Numerous media speculations and Mino Raiola’s tirades could come to an end as Paul Pogba looks convinced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United project – which is to regain their place among Europe’s elite, with a philosophy of attacking football based on a long-term vision.

With his current Old Trafford contract expiring in 2021 – with a club-dependant clause to extend it by a further 12 months, Paul Pogba is said to be “happy” at how things are running under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Recently, L’Equipe suggested that Pogba is impressed at how the United manager has managed the situation when the midfielder was linked with a move away from Old Trafford while recovering from the ankle injury.

Owing to a long spell on the sidelines due to injuries, Man United bosses were ready to cut ties with Pogba, provided an optimum bid, expected to be around 100 million euros was submitted for the player. However, Solskjaer considered the World Cup winner pivotal to his plans and wanted Pogba to stay at the club.

"Solskjaer doesn’t want to let go of Pogba. He enjoys his technical relationship with Bruno Fernandes, who arrived this winter. At the moment, the only element that would allow a transfer would be that a club interested in the French offers a player who interests MU in the deal.The World Cup winner is ‘swimming in happiness’ right now. (L’Equipe via Sport Witness)"

Adding to this story, ESPN has reported on similar lines about how cheerful Pogba has been since his return from an ankle injury and is confident of the progress the current United squad is making under Solskjaer and his coaching staff.

The arrival of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP in January is certainly one of the telling factors in Pogba’s lifted spirits at the club. Also, the financial uncertainty due to COVID-19 has jeopardised his coveted move to Real Madrid or a return to Juventus.

"Paul Pogba has rarely been happier at Manchester United and is keen to stay at the club, sources have told ESPN, with the turnaround in his mood in part due to his relationship with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.In the past, he expressed his desire to play for Real Madrid but with the La Liga giants’ finances tight amid the coronavirus pandemic, it is not clear whether they would be able to fund a move this summer. (ESPN)"

To protect the transfer value, should the player decides to leave next summer, Manchester United will trigger the one-year extension in Pogba’s contract.

However, as developments suggest, Man United could initiate dialogues to agree on an enhanced contract with the player, for whom the club broke their transfer record, paying £89.3 million to Juventus in 2016.

Do you think Pogba will commit long-term at Manchester United? Let us know in the comments.