Five Players That Could Replace Paul Pogba At Manchester United

Manchester United will need to replace Paul Pogba before the transfer window closes.

Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images

Paul Pogba’s second tenure at Manchester United has come to an end this summer as he sees his contract expire at the end of June.

The Frenchman was one of the most polarising figures in recent history at the club. However, his quality is undisputable. United are losing a top talent and so replacing the World Cup winner will definitely be high up on Erik ten Hag's radar.

Here are five possible replacements to succeed Pogba at Old Trafford.

Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona) As all the headlines suggest, Manchester United may look to reunite Erik Ten Hag and Frenkie de Jong at Old Trafford this summer.

At the time of writing, reports suggest that Frenkie de Jong is open to a move to United with negotiations ongoing. A deal could be struck at a fee of around €85 million (£73 million).

Having a strong relationship with the new manager, de Jong could be a robust addition to bolster United’s notably weak midfield.

De Jong fits into a similar role that Paul Pogba played at Manchester United, as a solid playmaker who can control the play of the team whilst adding another layer of defence to the team.

At only 25 years old, de Jong could be a suitable main man in leading both United’s midfield and future.

His 91 per cent pass accuracy in the 2021/22 La Liga campaign would be a significant improvement on Paul Pogba’s 83 percent.

With a manager who nurtured this talent, there is no reason why De Jong could not succeed as Paul Pogba’s replacement.

Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Ruben Neves is a player who has been linked with United countless times over the previous couple of seasons. However, could the departure of Pogba mean we finally see Neves’ arrival?

As per Fabrizio Romano, Wolves are demanding €100 million to allow Neves to leave this summer.

Neves is an experienced midfielder in the Premier League which removes any chance of failure to adapt to the league’s conditions.

The Portuguese star gives United a player who sits in and plays out from a deeper position.

He is also confident in winning the ball back from lost possessions.

Neves is well known for his fantastic long-range finishes, with a keen eye for goal from distance. On top of this, Neves can consistently pick out passes from deeper positions successfully.

No other Premier League midfielder made more accurate long balls than Neves last season, with his total at 197.

Pairing Neves into a midfield with his Portuguese colleague, Bruno Fernandes, could form to a healthy partnership to lead United forward.

Overall, an interesting option for United is if they can break past Wolves’ high price point.

Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) Another option that United could seek from the Premier League would be the young Belgian star Youri Tielemans.

Tielemans offers United a box-to-box midfielder with power in his attacking ability.

In his time at Leicester, Tielemans has scored 15 Premier League goals and registered 14 assists.

Whilst United are not directly linked to the player, they could afford to hijack any moves that rival clubs attempt to make.

Tielemans technical ability is a standout feature of the 25-year-old, who can find strikers in behind from well-weighted passes with ease. In the last Premier League campaign, he created 37 chances for Leicester.

Tielemans could also add a sturdy layer to United’s defence, with impressive ball-winning traits.

A possible move that is more unexpected for United, but not one that they should rule out at all.

N’Golo Kante N’Golo Kante is a proven winner after succeeding at Leicester, Chelsea and the French national team.

With his contract expiring in 2023, Kante could be available for a lower fee than most other options.

His amazing work rate and seemingly never-ending stamina could take United’s midfield to new levels of pressing.

Despite his clear talent, United could be put off by his injury record at Chelsea. The French midfielder has recently left the national team’s camp after a knee injury in training. With a reduced fee and impressive work rate, could United look past Kante’s injury record?

Christian Eriksen A free agent option that United may look to take advantage of this summer is Christian Eriksen.

Following a cardiac arrest in the 2021 Euros, there were fears for Eriksen’s future as a footballer.

After a successful recovery, Eriksen found his form again at Brentford, displaying several fantastic performances.

It is being reported by David Ornstein that United have offered Christian Eriksen a contract, although they will need to convince the Danishman that their project has a future, with a number of clubs also chasing his signature.

Eriksen could be the playmaker that sparks a change at United. The team have previously struggled with creating chances against sides deploying low-blocks.

Eriksen will be able to cycle in and out of the side as a rotation player who will have a huge impact on United’s attacking output when used correctly. With no fee required, there is no reason why United should not chase this signing.

TUS Opinion Whilst Pogba is a big departure at United, the necessity for his replacement has been enhanced with both Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic leaving too. I feel the best option for United would be to sign Frenkie de Jong as well as Christian Eriksen.

With de Jong and Eriksen, United can sign two different types of midfielders, who could also work well together and essentially add depth to the side - something which United often lacked in the post-Fergie era.

I see no reason why United could sign both players with Eriksen being a free agent. I think if the Red Devils can bring in both players, they can essentially replace Pogba with these two midfielders who give United exactly what they need, then their long-standing midfielder issues could be solved.

Originally published for The United Stand.