Manchester United Transfer News: Paul Pogba Deal Close Amid Real Madrid Rumours

Manchester United will reportedly complete the world-record signing of Juventus' Paul Pogba "in a matter of hours."


According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Kevin Palmer in the Irish Independent), Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, is set to fly to Manchester to finalise details on a €110 million (£92.2 million) transfer that will see the 23-year-old midfielder return to the club he left in 2012.


While United are clearly edging closer to pulling off the huge signing of Pogba, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has revealed that Los Blancos remain interested in snapping up the Frenchman, per Goal's David Manuca: "In this moment we are still working [on a move for Pogba], and I cannot say anything more."


Zidane added that "anything can happen" up until the transfer window closes but acknowledged there are other clubs in the fight for Pogba, per Manuca:


Until August 31 anything can happen, but today he is not a Real Madrid player and I cannot talk about what will happen.


I always say how things are, but now is not the time to talk about this. A lot of clubs are interested in Pogba.


Real Madrid always want the best players. But we owe Juventus respect, and I can't say anything more out of respect.


Real were previously seen as the front-runners to sign Pogba with the Bernabeu reported as the midfielder's preferred destination should he leave Juve, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:


However, the Spanish giants were recently said to have dropped out of the race for the France international "for financial reasons," according to Sky Sports' Andy Burton.


United certainly now look to be in the driving seat as new manager Jose Mourinho looks to add his fourth, and biggest, signing of the summer after the arrivals at Old Trafford of Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.


Negotiations have now been taking place for some time with recent reports indicating that Pogba's move is stalling because of a standoff between United and Juve over who pays Raiola's fee, per Sky Italia (via Andrew Dixon on Sky Sports).


With Pogba's agent now reportedly travelling to Manchester to finalise the deal "that problem should be resolved," and the Frenchman's return to Manchester seems imminent, per Palmer.


Pogba left United for next to nothing in 2012 having failed to nail down a first-team place but has developed into a world-class talent who will be a vital part of Mourinho's side as the Portuguese manager looks to win the Premier League title and return to the Champions League.


The Red Devils are currently lacking depth and quality in their engine room, but the arrival of Pogba will go a long way to solving that problem, and it looks as though United are finally set to confirm the biggest deal of the summer transfer window.


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