Pogba poised to complete £93m move to Man Utd

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is on the verge of returning to Manchester United for a reported world-record fee after being granted permission to have a medical.

Paul Pogba is poised to return to the team he left in 2012 for only £800,000

A Juve spokesperson said yesterday that the France international had been given the green light to undergo fitness checks as his proposed switch back to Old Trafford edged closer, and United confirmed that the deal was close.

According to reports, it could be worth 110 million euros (£93.2m), beating the estimated £85m that Real Madrid paid Tottenham for Gareth Bale.

The Premier League club released a short statement saying the 23-year-old “has been granted permission to have a medical in order to finalise his transfer from Juventus to Manchester United” – alongside the hashtag ‘POGBACK’.

The Italian champions were in London to play West Ham in a friendly to mark the opening of the London Stadium. They beat the hosts 3-2.

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri seemed resigned to losing Pogba, having previously said he was expected back at training today. Allegri said after the West Ham game: “We have just finished a match and I don’t know much more. We will see tomorrow if he is a still Juventus player.”

United manager Jose Mourinho suggested on Friday that he wanted the deal done in time for United’s league opener at Bournemouth on Sunday.

Pogba joined Juventus from United in 2012 for £800,000, and in four seasons in Turin has won four league titles.

United yesterday beat Leicester City 2-1 to win the Community Shield at Wembley, with new striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring the late winner.

Jesse Lingard ran 40 yards and beat four men to put United in front before Marouane Fellaini’s dreadful back-pass let Jamie Vardy in to round David de Gea and equalise.