Paul Pogba to Man City is a ‘no-brainer’, says Redknapp… but Carragher ‘wouldn’t go near him’

Paul Pogba moving to Manchester City is a ‘no-brainer’ according to Jamie Redknapp, but Jamie Carragher has urged Pep Guardiola to not go ‘anywhere near’ the Frenchman. 

Pogba’s contract at Manchester United expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a free transfer to their local rivals. 

City are on the lookout for midfield reinforcements, with 37-year-old Fernandinho set to leave the club this summer. 

Paul Pogba has recently been touted to make the switch to Manchester City on a free transfer

‘It would be an incredible move,’ Redknapp said on Sky Sports. ‘It would be one I wouldn’t have seen coming. You have to weigh it up. On a free transfer, he’d have a point to prove because he’s taken a lot of stick at United. 

‘There’s a few times I’ve watched games between United and City and he [Guardiola] always goes over to have a bit of dialogue. He obviously respects him as a player, there was talk a few years ago that he might have gone for him. 

‘No matter what you say about Paul Pogba, it’s a free transfer – high wages of course but that’s not a problem for Man City – you would take him in a heartbeat. He adds a lot to this team and I think he’d be hungry to come and show what he can do. 

‘He lives in the area, I think it would be an incredible move. It would be a brave move, but I’d love to see that in the Premier League. I think it would make sense all round.

Jamie Redknapp said he would love the deal to happen as Pogba would ‘add so much’ to City

But Jamie Carragher urged Manchester City to stay well away from the French international

‘He would have to be completely different to the player we’ve seen at United, that’s a fact. He’d have to play a lot more like he does for France. I think it’s a no-brainer. He scores goals, he adds so much to the team.’

However, Carragher disagreed with his colleague as he slammed Pogba for a lack of effort on the pitch. 

‘I wouldn’t go anywhere near him, he said. ‘You win the league every year, you get 95 to 100 points every year. He doesn’t work hard enough as the other players. If Pep could get it out of him fantastic, there’s no doubt there’s ability – no one has ever doubted it. 

‘But when you see the creative players City have, Foden, Bernardo Silva. These type of players who are brilliant players and don’t stop running, working from minute one. That’s what makes Manchester City what they are, they’re a great team, brilliant manager. I’m not doubting his quality, but he does not work hard enough.

Pogba has faced criticism throughout the last six years since returning to Manchester United

‘When you see him in a France shirt or at times for Manchester United, unbelievable quality. Does special things at different times. But we’re still six years in and we’re still talking about his best position, who can get the best out of him.’

Meanwhile, Micah Richards sided with Redknapp and said he could see Pogba as part of City’s side. 

‘He does work hard,’ Richards argued. ‘He’s in a team at Man United where they have no structure. If you look at the way Man City play, they win the ball high up. So when we’re talking about working hard, all he needs to do is five or ten yard sprints with the rest of the team. They all go as a team. He would fit into this team.’ 

Carragher said that the midfielder ‘doesn’t work hard enough’ to play in a Pep Guardiola team

Having left United as a teenager in 2012, Pogba re-signed for the club for a record £89.3 million in the summer of 2016.

However, he has struggled to live up to that transfer fee and has often found himself the subject of criticism from fans and pundits alike.

As United have struggled to deliver under multiple managers, the 29-year-old has become synonymous with the club’s problems. 

This season, Pogba has struggled with injury and started just 16 Premier League games, scoring only once.