Manchester United have made keeping Paul Pogba and David De Gea their No 1 priority this summer – as they look to reassert themselves as the biggest club in the world.
The French midfielder and Spanish keeper have both been told they are not for sale, after reports from Spain claimed Real Madrid will make a move for Pogba after agreeing an £86million deal to sign Chelsea ’s Eden Hazard in the summer.
Sunday Mirror Sport understands that new United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke to Pogba after Real coach Zinedine Zidane began his charm offensive to lure the World Cup winner to the Bernabeu last weekend.
His message to the Frenchman is that he is staying at Old Trafford.
Pogba’s contract does not expire until 2021 – and United have the option of taking up a further year.
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Despite reports to the contrary, talks have not yet taken place about handing the 26-year-old a new deal.
United are taking the same stance with De Gea, after being forced to trigger a one-year extension in his contract to keep him at the club after negotiations over a new deal stalled.
De Gea wants in excess of £350,000-a-week to commit himself to a club that is paying Chilean flop Alexis Sanchez £500,000-a-week.
United are prepared to gamble on an agreement being reached before the summer of 2020, when the £100million-rated keeper can leave on a free.
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United feel they must draw a line in the sand if they are to rid themselves of a reputation of providing easy pickings in the transfer market.
A club source said: “It doesn’t matter which clubs are interested in our players, this is Manchester United .
“There is only one message: Paul Pogba and David De Gea are not for sale.
“They will both still be United players next season.”
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United have a number of weaknesses to address in their squad.
Ander Herrera and Juan Mata are set to leave after failing to agree financial terms over new contracts, while Antonio Valencia has not been offered a fresh deal.
Full-backs Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian are also surplus to requirements.
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But United will have to take a huge financial hit on £25million signing and highest earner Sanchez if they are to get him off the payroll after a disastrous 18 months in Manchester.
With so many departures looming, club bosses realise that allowing world-class talents like Pogba and De Gea to leave would leave Solskjaer with an even bigger summer rebuild ahead of his first season in charge
