TRANSFER WINDOW: Scholes Slams Pogba ‘World-record Fee’

Former Manchester United player Paul Scholes has questioned whether the club should pay a world-record fee for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, stressing that the 23-year-old is not in the same bracket as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

United have been negotiating with Juventus over the transfer of Pogba, who is a top target for new manager Jose Mourinho, according to media reports in Britain.

Scholes was Pogba’s teammate when the latter was a teenager at United and feels despite his obvious talent, the France international has a long way to go before he can stake his claim as one of the world’s top players and command a record fee.

“He was a very talented young player, I played with him and I knew how good he was,” Scholes, who is playing in a futsal tournament in India, told the Times of India daily.

“I just don’t think he is worth £86 million. For that sort of money, you want someone who is going to score 50 goals a season like Ronaldo or Messi. Pogba is nowhere there yet.”

Scholes also praised Manchester City’s capture of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Guendogan for a fee worth around £20 million, according to British media reports.

“I think Guendogan is a really impressive player,” Scholes said. “I’ve seen a lot of him at Borussia Dortmund.”

“If he can stay fit, I think he can be a fantastic player. I also think he is great value for the money Manchester City paid for him. I think he is a bargain.”