Paper Round: Paul Pogba's Manchester United future on a knife-edge

The relationship between Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and their manager Jose Mourinho has never been worse. The two needled one another over the course of last season following poor showings from Pogba, and Mourinho benched him for months. In a recent meeting, Mourinho told Pogba that if he wanted to leave then he needed to put in a request, and Pogba has insisted similar communication now needs to be done through his agent.

Paper Round’s view: With Mourinho seemingly close to the exit after a couple of seasons at Old Trafford, it will probably end with Mourinho, and not Pogba, being shown the door at the end of the season. If United bring in a new manager to Pogba’s liking - perhaps fellow Frenchman Zinedine Zidane - and give him a huge weekly raise, then he could well stay after Mourinho moves on to another job.

Following the failure of Manchester United to secure Tottenham Hotspur central defender Toby Alderweireld, they may miss out on him for good. Jerome Boateng is expected to leave Bayern Munich to join Paris Saint-Germain, leaving the German champions a man light at the back. They could move for the 29-year-old Belgium international to firm up their defence following his departure.

Paper Round’s view: Compared to United, Bayern might offer a more attractive deal. While Bayern usually pay less than the top Premier League sides, they can offer Alderweireld an almost guaranteed league title over the course of his contract, and they are regularly strong challengers in the Champions League. While he may want to stay in England, there are no guarantees any club will be back in for him next season if he is frozen out at Spurs.

Liverpool have turned down an offer for Marko Grujic. The club believe that the 22-year-old Serbian playmaker has a future at Anfield, and so turned down a £9 million offer from Torino, who wanted to take him on loan for the first season of the deal. Liverpool, however, value him at more than double that figure. CSKA Moscow are also interested in a loan deal, which Liverpool might prefer as they believe the player still has a long-term future with the club.

Paper Round’s view: Liverpool are well stocked in attack and midfield for the coming season, especially with the return to fitness of Daniel Sturridge for the opening games. That means that Grujic is unlikely to get much action in the first team. A loan move would be a way to grant him more first-team experience while being able to rely upon him in the longer term should he develop as is hoped.

Blackburn Rovers could be in for Ben Brereton, Nottingham Forest’s young star striker. Aitor Karanka has not started Brereton in either of the club’s first two games amid interest from the Lancashire team. Tony Mowbray has offered £6m for the player but Forest want double that for the 19-year-old striker. The move could be funded by huge chicken profits made by owners Venkys.

Paper Round’s view: Brereton looks a fearless and technically adept young player, and there are very few of them about in England, let alone The Championship. £6m does seem at the low end for a player like that, especially considering the riches on offer from Premier League, and when Blackburn’s owners could gain some popularity after years of disaffection amongst the fans.