Report: Manchester City, Real Madrid enter Paul Pogba bidding war

The Google-translated opening lines to Gazzetta's report read: "Even if they're crazy these Englishmen, but the follies are ready to make them when the talent is crystal clear. And for Paul Pogba not want to care about the price..."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

There are two acceptable outcomes to the Paul Pogba situation this summer.  No more, no less.

One, the far more preferable one, is that Chelsea pay the supposed £60m needed to prize him away from Juventus.  Or whatever moneys are needed -- and we should still have plenty left over after spending about that much combined on Cesc Fàbregas and Diego Costa already.

Two, the slightly less preferable one, is that Pogba stays at Juventus, refuses to sign an extension and is sold to us at a cheaper price next summer.  He would have just one year left on his contract at that point, giving us more leverage during negotiations.

The common theme in the two outcomes is that Pogba ends up at Chelsea at some point real soon.  This is the only outcome acceptable.  What's not acceptable then is that he ends up somewhere else, and what's especially not acceptable is that he ends up back in the Premier League but with one of our title rivals.

According to our information, the French international [Paul Pogba] (21) is in the sight of Manchester City, who would like to see take over from Yaya Toure, Manchester United, [which could include Patrice Evra] in the transaction, and Real Madrid.

-source: L'Equipe

As far as I can tell, this blurb is the genesis of the latest round of rumors.  La Gazzetta dello Sport pads it out by saying that City had bid €40m earlier this spring and are now ready to double it to test Juve's resolve.  They go on to remind us that Mourinho is still waiting and ready to pounce with the previously rumored €70m (£60m) offer (YAY!), while also claiming that the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG are after the boy as well (BOO!).

His potential return to United would be very Matic-esque and perhaps should not be discounted too readily.  And considering just how bad that midfield is, even with a proper manager once again at the helm, they'd be silly not to try to rectify their greatest mistake.

The Barcelona and PSG links are both new links to me, while Real Madrid are always a threat for any World Class player's signature.  Some Spanish sources claim that a deal involving either Paul Pogba (less likely) or Arturo Vidal (more likely) with Angel Di Maria going the other way may be in the works.

Either way, this situation just got a bit more dangerous.  Time to sharpen those checkbooks, Roman!