Manchester United find themselves in a difficult position when it comes to Paul Pogba.
While the Frenchman has massively disappointed since his arrival back in 2016, his contract status means that the club risk losing him for nothing this summer. As a result, he could seek out a massive salary in order to pen a new deal.
The board may be focusing on protecting his transfer value with such a move, but would it be wise? We have seen many examples of club's in this situation later regretting the contract that they have handed out, and purely looking at his output on the pitch, Pogba has done little to justify such an investment.
Despite Ralg Rangnick's status as interim manager, the promise of a consultancy role from next season means he is likely to play some part in this decision. Simon Jordan believes he has far too much sense to hand his midfielder a hefty new deal.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Crystal Palace chairman said that the German should be able to see the potential pitfalls in giving Pogba a bumper new contract.
“They’ve been waiting and waiting for a consistent run of form that justifies it.”
“Why would the next 15 games justify the last 156? You have had four years…” 🤔
Simon Jordan says #MUFC would be foolish to offer Pogba a new contract. 🇫🇷
🤝 With @TescoMobile #Ad pic.twitter.com/y7KgSN7JxC— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 20, 2022
I think Man United don't know what to do with him. They've been waiting and waiting and waiting for a run of form from Paul Pogba that justifies a new contract.
Every time they get anywhere near something vaguely resembling it, off he goes with another set of form that is no longer relevant to the type of contract that he wants...
Why would 15 games justify the last 156? You've had four years, the question wouldn't be there if the last four years were so compelling that the discussion wouldn't be had.
If Ralf Rangnick, who strikes me as a pragmatic and strategic thinking man, is talking in very sensible terms, which is that he doesn't care about the motivations and only cares about the outcome.
The motivation is that this then hoodwinks Manchester United into thinking that this pup that they bought for £90million is going to turn into a world beater for the next contract that they sign him to when he hasn't for the last four years, that's the danger.
I think Rangnick is a bit more sensible than that.
Manchester United are in a tough spot here, but they may be better off letting Pogba walk at the end of the season.
Keeping him could have even more disastrous consequences further down the line.