Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant Rene Meulensteen has advised Manchester United to sell Paul Pogba in the summer and use the funds they receive to help rebuild a team capable of winning the Premier League.
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Man Utd are set to finish this campaign as runners-up to Manchester City, and although Solskjaer has presided over a season that could end with silverware, but his side are some way from being considered the finished article.
The problems with the current squad were exposed by Liverpool on Thursday at Old Trafford, as Jurgen Klopp’s side went away with a convincing 4-2 win.
Pogba was deployed on the left wing, with Solskjaer unwilling to trust the Frenchman in midfield which, according to Meulensteen, creates an ‘imbalance’ in the team.
‘He likes to play with two pivots in Fred and McTominay, the Dutchman told Stadium Astro. ‘The reason for that is to protect the back four but I think you need another midfield player in there that is more creative that can do a bit of both like Fernandinho at Manchester City, or Fabinho with Liverpool.
‘Pogba creates an imbalance in the team because he has to play, he can’t play as one of the two pivots. Defensively people run off him so he doesn’t do his defensive job.
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‘You play him from the left OK you try to manufacture something there. I’m not sure. Maybe the best way is to say can we get some money from him and look at what we need.’
In terms of replacements, Meulensteen has doubts over Declan Rice, who is said to be on their radar with Chelsea having cooled their interest, but believes Jack Grealish has the right DNA to play for United.
He added: ‘I think with the stature of Pogba comes expectations. I don’t think overall he’s lived up to those for whatever reasons. So if I could I would cash-in on him and reshape the team.
‘The other problem is Pogba has never openly to the fans committed himself to Manchester United, how much he wants to play for this club. These are big issues for me.
‘Declan Rice for me is a very young promising player, but playing for Man Utd is different playing week in week out. You need to be really coming up with the goods.
‘I’m not too sure if he would be my pick there are other names touted around. A player like Grealish, he would have the DNA to play for Man Utd and the stature for it and he would have the ambition but it would change the outlook of the team. He is a ball hogger, he likes to dribble and create things for himself.’
