Transfer Centre

Stan Collymore: 'Manchester United should forget about signing Paul Pogba'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 09 July 2016

Stan Collymore insists that Manchester United would be better off signing N'Golo Kante and Dimitri Payet instead of £100m-rated Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has advised Manchester United to forget about signing Paul Pogba and instead turn their attention towards recruiting Dimitri Payet and N'Golo Kante for the same price.

The 23-year-old, who will likely play a part for France in Sunday's Euro 2016 final meeting against Portugal, has been heavily linked with a £100m move to Old Trafford.

Many pundits have claimed that the Red Devils are perhaps wasting their money by spending so big to sign Pogba from Juventus - views that are echoed by Collymore who believes that there is better value to be found elsewhere in the France team.

"Paul Pogba is a great player and someone I rate tremendously," Collymore wrote in The Mirror. "He's the epitome of the modern midfielder - athletic, covers the ground well and very tactically aware. But, for £100m of anybody's money, I'd have to say 'No way!'

"I don't even think he's worth £70m or £75m, if I'm being honest. The smarter move from Mourinho would be to sign two other members of the France team who'll take on Portugal in the Euro 2016 final on Sunday night - N'Golo Kante and Dimitri Payet instead.

"Because what United need is to be good in the here and now of this season and, while I have no doubt Pogba could become one of the best midfielders on the planet in time, I don't think he'd guarantee the immediate success in the way those two would."

Ex-Man United midfielder Paul Ince recently offered a different perspective, describing Pogba as a "perfect fit" for Jose Mourinho at the Theatre of Dreams.