Real Madrid ready to offer James Rodriguez to acquire Manchester United star Paul Pogba
Spanish giants Real Madrid are willing to include James Rodriguez in a potential cash plus player deal for Manchester United star Paul Pogba in January.
The French international was heavily linked with a move to Los Blancos in the summer but a transfer failed to materialise, forcing the midfielder to stay at Old Trafford.
Pogba hinted at a potential exit in an interview over the summer stating that the summer would have been a great opportunity for a new challenge.
However, the Red Devils stood firm and refused to let the player leave, with Real Madrid reportedly unwilling to offer the incredible asking price of £180m for the World Cup winner.
The 26-year-old has rarely featured for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season due to a number of injuries, with the latest being a broken toe.
Pogba is set to return in mid-December, which is just in time for a Premier League clash against rivals Manchester City.
So far, Pogba has only featured in 6 games in all competitions, registering 2 assists which were both attained in a 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea in the first Premier League game of the season.
The relationship between Pogba and United has been a constant topic in the media, especially when it hit an all-time low when the Frenchman clashed with former United manager Jose Mourinho.
Ever since then, rumours have been circulating about a potential exit from Old Trafford and Real Madrid have always been the most likely destination.
Los Blancos are 5/1 to sign the former Juventus midfielder in January which is significantly lower than the odds of a return to Juventus, which is set at 12/1.
Real Madrid’s arch-nemesis Barcelona are an outside bet to sign Pogba with the bookies setting odds for a move to the Nou Camp at 20/1.
Without the talismanic midfielder, United have struggled as Solskjaer’s side currently sit in a measly 14th place with just 13 points in 11 games.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid sit atop the La Liga table but Zinedine Zidane’s side have not been at their best throughout the season.
James Rodriguez, who was on loan at Bayern Munich for the last two seasons, returned to the Santiago Bernabeu and has featured in most of Los Blancos’ fixtures.
The Columbian has however only registered two-goal contributions in 9 appearances for Zidane’s squad and has already suffered multiple injuries this season.
Rodriguez and Zidane’s relationship was fractured for a long time and the 28-year-old has only started five starts as it looks like the French manager has little faith in him.
Zidane has been a long admirer of Pogba and with Rodriguez heavily linked with a move away from the Spanish capital in the summer, this move could be beneficial for both the clubs and the players.
