MANCHESTER: Paul Pogba is to ‘demand a sharp increase on his wage’ at Manchester United as the midfielder wants to match Alexis Sanchez’s £450,000 (RM2.4 million)-a-week deal.
The Frenchman’s agent, Mino Raiola, will advise the midfielder that his current £200,000-a-week contract does not reflect his worth at Old Trafford, according to The Mirror.
Pogba has three years left to run on the contract he signed in 2016 having rejoined the club from Juventus in a record £89 million deal at the time.
Pogba agreed to a £167,000-a-week salary when he returned to Manchester — but that was hiked to over £200,000-a-week by a clause triggered when United returned to the Champions League by lifting the Europa League against Ajax.
And the imminent arrival of Sanchez is said to have changed other players’ opinions regarding their own worth to the club.
Pogba is beginning to dictate proceedings for United and boss Jose Mourinho in games now and United do not want to risk losing his services as he approaches the peak years of his career.
The 24-year-old is now 36 games unbeaten with the Red Devils and in 14 Premier League games, Pogba has 10 wins, four draws and no defeats.
United edged out Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday through Anthony Martial’s goal where Pogba put in a dominant and mature performance in central-midfield — he’s the man that makes United tick.
Former Ireland defender Denis Irwin said players of the calibre of Sanchez do not become available very often so United had no choice but to make a move for the Arsenal forward.
The 29-year-old Sanchez, who is out of contract at the end of the season and was also a target for leaders Manchester City, missed Arsenal’s 4-1 league win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
British media reports say he will seal his move to United this week with Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan joining Arsenal in a swap deal.
“When a player of that ability comes along, I think you got to be in the market for him,” Irwin, who played over 500 games for United during 12 trophy-laden seasons, said.
“He’s a player who knows the Premier League, his goal record... he’s an experienced international. He’s quick, he’s strong.
“It would be great if he comes to Manchester United because he would not just add to our squad but our team. He’s a really good player and I think he will be a good addition, really good.”
The Chile international has scored 80 goals in 166 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal since joining from Barcelona in July 2014.
Irwin lauded Mourinho’s ability to attract top players and said the Portuguese manager had done enough to warrant an extension to the three-year contract he signed in 2016.
“Since he’s come in 16-17 months back, he’s brought in some really good players,” he said. “He attracts good players and all of them have strengthened us. He knows he’s not there yet but we are getting back to where we should be.” --AGENCIES