The next Paul Pogba could be on his way to Man Utd for £60m

It’s been a decade – yes, a decade – since Manchester United forked out £89m to bring Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford, just four years on from the Frenchman’s free-transfer exit under Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Juventus man, with the aid of Stormzy, certainly made a grand entrance, instantly catapulting himself into the limelight as United’s marquee name.

The fact he remains the club-record signing ten years on perhaps speaks to the fact that the Red Devils are being left behind in a financial sense, but that’s for another day, with Pogba’s actual United career still one which splits opinion.

Was he a victim of a period of turbulence at the Theatre of Dreams, or a key reason behind that upheaval?

Was Paul Pogba a success at Man Utd?

Much of the frustration surrounding Pogba’s time in Manchester is that his talent was so evident, a seemingly complete, powerhouse midfielder who was almost unstoppable when he wanted to be.

Indeed, he memorably racked up four assists on the opening day in 2021 against Leeds United, while embarking on a stellar run of form in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s exit in 2018, ending that Premier League campaign with career-best figures of 13 goals and nine assists.

As was seen at the World Cup in 2018, partnering him with the right midfielder appeared to be the key to unlocking his potential – can United say they ever truly did that?

On the other hand, was it not on Pogba himself to make a success of it, with his status, personality and price tag all pointing to a player who should have been a leader in Manchester?

Look to Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese having instantly raised the level even while not operating in a vintage United side.

For instance, from the point of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signing on permanently in March 2019 to Fernandes’ debut in February 2020, the Norwegian had overseen more defeats (12) than wins (11) in the Premier League. The incoming midfielder quickly altered the dynamic.

Both men have won just two trophies apiece, far below what was expected, but Fernandes is firmly edging toward legend status. For Pogba, he may well be remembered as something of a liability instead.

There was a player there, yet it simply didn’t work out. Perhaps a similar level of talent can flourish under Michael Carrick’s guidance this season.

How Man Utd can sign a Pogba-esque talent this summer

The new season is just days away, and with the 4-2 defeat to Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan still fresh in the memory, supporters are starting to get a little anxious, and rightly so.

Well, perhaps those fears can be eased somewhat amid the news that Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba appears to be closing in on a move to Old Trafford, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealing that INEOS have lodged a bid of around £65m for the Cameroonian.

The 22-year-old previously agreed personal terms with the club last year, although United were put off by his £100m+ asking price. Patience, it seems, is a virtue.

Statement, high quality additions like Baleba are a must before the deadline, and perhaps one of those might also be Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, even after the teenager’s stunning Community Shield display.

As per Football.London’s Tom Canton, United’s interest in the 19-year-old has been increasing over the last week or so, having seen their parallel pursuit of Lewis Hall hit the skids.

The youngster’s summer performances have only ramped up INEOS’ desire to seal a deal, with prior reports indicating that he could be available for a fee of around £60m.

Put simply, in a window that has seen the likes of Elliot Anderson fetch £116m, that would be a steal for Lewis-Skelly, with this a player who only recently started in a Champions League final back in May.

Having burst onto the scene at first-team level at left-back, he has returned to his favoured midfield role since the back end of last term, displacing Martin Zubimendi for the title run-in.

Quite why Mikel Arteta would sell, other than for financial reasons, remains to be seen, but for United, this could mark a real coup for this INEOS regime, even more so than Baleba.

Indeed, considering what Lewis-Skelly has already shown in high-profile games, alongside his ability to feature at full-back, should ensure that he stands out as an even better signing than the Seagulls star.

Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Intriguingly, Lewis-Skelly has previously outlined his admiration for his idol, Pogba, while GOAL noted in the past that he’s almost a “Pogba-type midfielder” due to his ability to carry the ball forward from deep.

Indeed, his strength and ball-carrying prowess are certainly Pogba-esque, ranking in the top 10% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues last season for deep carries per 90, as well as in the top 9% for productive dribbles per 90.

For comparison, Baleba ranked in just the bottom 25% and the bottom 42% for those same two metrics, respectively, following a difficult year at the Amex.

Lewis-Skelly can also mirror the Frenchman’s creative flair, having teed up Riccardo Calafiori to open the scoring mere seconds into Sunday’s win over Manchester City, picking out the Italian with a delightful reverse pass.

It’s difficult not to be impressed by his natural talent, with the same true of his character and personality, with Jamie Carragher likening him to compatriot, Jude Bellingham, due to having that “football arrogance“.

REUTERS/Matthew Childs

He seemingly has plenty of the traits that made Pogba a star in moments for United, yet if harnessed in the right way, perhaps he can go on to far greater heights at Old Trafford.

Let’s hope the little boy inside of him is screaming for United…