Real Madrid’s summer pursuit of Paul Pogba has been handed a huge boost after Manchester United failed to secure Champions League football for next season.
United’s hopes of securing a top-four Premier League finish were ended with a game to spare on Sunday as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s strugglers were held to a 1-1 draw at relegated Huddersfield .
And failure to to finish in the top four this season will see every United player have their basic salary reduced by a whopping 25 per cent.
This was the case when they last missed out on Champions League qualification before Jose Mourinho’s arrival in 2016.
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Pogba, whose current deal sees him earn £300,000 a week, will be one of the most affected players at Old Trafford.
Not only will he see his weekly wages cut to £225,000, but he also stands to lose out on a whopping £1.8million bonus.
The Daily Mail claims that the World Cup winner earns the yearly bonus every time United qualify for the Champions League, so their latest setback will be a huge blow to Pogba.
The Frenchman faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford, with Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane keen on bringing him to the Bernabeu this summer.
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Pogba himself appears keen on a move to Spain, having said recently it would be a "dream" to join Real Madrid.
Zidane has made no secret of his admiration for the French midfielder and wants to sign the midfielder as part of his huge squad overhaul this summer.
That pursuit could be helped by United’s latest setback, and it could now see Pogba lower his wage demands.
