Real Madrid ‘increasingly confident’ of a deal for Manchester United’s Paul Pogba

Los Blancos are ‘increasingly confident’ a deal can be done with Manchester United for the wantaway midfielder, according to ESPN. Madrid president Florentino Perez was understood to have told manager Zinedine Zidane that a move for Pogba would be difficult, in a Montreal meeting last week. Madrid had already spent around €300 million on incomings this summer, and Pogba is thought to be valued by Manchester United at €180m. However, the report claims that Zidane has emplored the Madrid hierarchy to push as hard as possible, and there is now a renewed belief that a deal can be done. It’s added that Zidane has insisted he has enough numbers in attack to account for Marco Asensio’s long-term injury, and he would rather they focused on Pogba. The largest stumbling block is the Premier League’s fast-appraching transfer deadline on August 8. This means Manchester United only have two weeks to replace Pogba, and they will not sell the Frenchman if they can’t. Another headache for Madrid is Gareth Bale’s seeming immovability, as Zidane struggles to free up his squad and wage space this summer. READ MORE… 27 essential Fantasy Premier League tips from old winners and experts Sead Kolasinac and 6 other footballers who acted as real-life superheroes Ranked! The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list Topics Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paul Pogba, Transfer news Influential magazine says Paul Pogba must leave Manchester United for Real Madrid Real Madrid are unlikely to sign Paul Pogba this summer for one big reason How Manchester United plan to keep hold of Paul Pogba this summer Manchester United name price for Paul Pogba – report St Johnstone sign Estonia defender Madis Vihmann Irving determined to prove worth after signing new Hearts deal Liverpool face growing criticism over plans to trademark name Liverpool face growing criticism over plans to trademark name Holt demands ‘no sympathy, no compassion’ against hapless Berwick Fantasy football team names: 49 excellent (and awful) ideas for yours this season Arsenal ready €40m bid for Brazilian who sees Gunners as first choice – report Ranked! The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list 6 Premier League signings who bounced back to star in their second season Manchester United have a clear message for Inter Milan about Romelu Lukaku – and may have identified his replacement