Paul Pogba
Rio Ferdinand has warned Manchester United not to sell record signing Paul Pogba to Barcelona before the transfer window shuts.
As revealed by Sportsmail, agent Mino Raiola is trying to engineer a sensational deal for the Frenchman to leave Old Trafford in the coming days.
Sources close to Pogba indicate that he would be open to a move, but club legend Rio Ferdinand has urged executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to keep him.
Manager, Jose Mourinho, has already predicted a ‘difficult season’ if United do not do more business, so losing a World Cup-winning midfielder would only add to that.
As a result, Ferdinand – who made over 450 appearances for United – wants Pogba to stay and Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld to come in.
Responding to a Sportsmail tweet, Ferdinand said: ‘Don’t you dare allow this ED… #MUFC is Pogba’s home!! Silence these rumours ASAP & get @AlderweireldTob through the door.’
United start their Premier League campaign on Friday against Leicester and, speaking on Sunday, Mourinho told MUTV: ‘My CEO knows what I want and I still have a few days to wait and see what happens.
‘The other clubs who compete with us are really strong and already have fantastic teams. Or they are investing massively like Liverpool, who are buying everything and everybody.’