PAUL POGBA’S dream move to Real Madrid is on the rocks over the Frenchman’s wage demands, according to reports.
The midfielder is desperate to leave Old Trafford this summer with Los Blancos, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain all showing an interest.
Pogba, 27, reportedly earns around £290,000-a-week on his current contract that expires next summer with the option of an extra year.
And it appears his wages are proving to be a big stumbling block following the coronavirus pandemic.
Covid-19 is having a huge impact on football finances with many clubs forced to tighten the purse strings.
Manchester United have already been forced to lower the asking price for clubs hopeful of landing their £89million club-record signing.
The Daily Mail report how the club have conceded they will not get their initial £150m demand and have knocked off £50m.
Real Madrid have made it no secret of their desire to sign the World Cup winner but will need him to take a pay cut.
The opportunity to team up with fellow compatriot Zinedine Zidane remains a temptation for Pogba.
They will face stiff competition from Juventus who have already hinted their intentions to re-sign the midfielder but admit his wages remain a problem.
Juve’s chief football officer Fabio Paratici told Sky Sports Italia: “Paul Pogba is a fantastic player, we know him as a champion.
“But something will change after the coronavirus crisis, because logically the salary demands someone at his level would have had before are now more difficult to get hold of.
“Or, at least, he’ll have fewer clubs prepared to pay that money.”
With clubs unable to fork out for big-name signings, Paratici believes a much different transfer window will see plenty of swap deals and extended loans.
He added: “We need ideas, swap deals and something new on next summer for transfers market.
“What we will see is more extended loans, so a two-year loan, even three. Some say we could start the 2020/21 season with the same players as 2019/20, which is also a possibility.
“There will certainly be less cash circulating and that’s obvious to everyone. We are going through a difficult moment globally, not just in football, and the consequences will be felt everywhere.”
