Premier League teams have been advised that they are 'not a good fit' for Paul Pogba as the Frenchman nears his return to competitive football. There had been tentative talk of a Manchester United comeback in the weeks leading up to the summer transfer window, while local rivals Manchester City considered making a move in the winter.
As yet, however, Pogba remains a free agent after agreeing a mutual termination of his contract with Juventus last November. The 32-year-old has not played a competitive match since September 2023, with his career derailed by a doping scandal which landed him with a ban that was reduced from four years to 18 months on appeal.
Despite Pogba's obvious talent, his World Cup win and his record of playing for top clubs, former Prem defender Colin Hendry does not believe the next step in his career should be back in England.
He told Coin Poker: "What's Pogba been doing for the last few years? That's the thing, you know, there are so many doubts about his ability and where he is as a player because we haven’t seen him.
"At his last club, Juventus, he wasn’t brilliant, was he? I know he had a lot of issues away from the pitch, but there are more reasons not to sign him than to sign him.
"I don’t want to write him off; I hope he can come back and show everyone what he’s made of because he's 32 and still could have a couple of good years in him, but I don’t think the Premier League is a good fit for him to be honest."
Pogba's career includes two stints in the Premier League. Both were at United, where he spent three years on the books as a youngster and six more as an established star.
His career entered a tailspin after leaving Old Trafford for a second spell at Juventus in 2022, and he only made 12 appearances in two seasons with the Turin giants. But Pogba is now edging closer towards a long-awaited return to the top of the game.
According to various reports, the midfield star and his entourage have been in advanced talks with AS Monaco, which would give him the opportunity to play club football in his homeland for the first time. Discussions have reportedly centred around a two-year deal, and Monaco bosses hope it can be signed off quickly.