Paper Round: Barcelona prepare Paul Pogba bid... for next summer

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba remains a target for Barcelona. However, the Catalans accept that they will not be able to sign the 25-year-old Frenchman this transfer window, and are planning to make a move next summer. There is likely to be no chance that United let him go halfway through the season, either, so their initial bid of £50m plus two players will be improved in a year’s time.

Paper Round’s view: Pogba and Mourinho are clearly are at odds over their plans for the year, and the relationship appears strained to say the least. However, a lot can happen in a year. United could start well and the relationship might mend itself, or Mourinho could be out of the club in a few months, giving Pogba a new manager to work with. Should he still want to leave, United will have time to find a replacement.

Manchester City have been informed that Julian Weigl will cost £68m and not a penny less, should they want to sign the Borussia Dortmund midfielder. The 22-year-old German international has been linked with a move to the Premier League all summer and some time before, and the German team have now signed Thomas Delaney and Axel Witsel, meaning they are prepared to let a midfielder go.

Paper Round’s view: Weigl is a smart, technically adept and young player, meaning he is exactly the kind of target you would expect for Pep Guardiola, who shows no interest in moving on from City in the next two seasons. £68m is a hefty sum, but is the going rate when there is a player with such potential and a club funded by petrodollars.

Chelsea are prepared to let two players leave before the European and loan transfer market shuts. After joining for £35m last season, they will allow Danny Drinkwater to leave after making little progress in the first team. He could be joined by Tammy Abraham, with the 20-year-old able to go on loan to get more first team experience.

Paper Round’s view: Chelsea have spent heavily to prepare for Maurizio Sarri’s first season in charge at Stamford Bridge, and despite the exit of Thibaut Courtois, could raise further funds. Drinkwater is reportedly not in the plans of the new Chelsea man, so a loan abroad could help the wage bill, and Abraham needs game time if he is to make it at Stamford Bridge or anywhere else.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is struggling to make up the numbers for his squad after struggling to add names in a difficult transfer window. He has said that Ciaran Clark and Isaac Hayden will not be allowed to leave on loan as had been rumoured. Benitez has said that he will, though, allow Rolando Aarons and Cal Roberts go, as they don’t feature in his plans.

Paper Round’s view: After an appalling transfer window with barely a penny spent, Benitez cannot afford to let anyone go who might be of use in the first team, because he has so little cover across the squad. Clark and Hayden will both be able to offer help to Benitez as he struggles to put together a side that can match last season’s 10th place finish.