NUFC eye £49.5m-rated "phenomenon" who's a "work of art", he'd ignite St James' Park - opinion

Newcastle United are in the race to sign Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to reports, the France international is interesting both the Magpies and fellow Premier League side Aston Villa, and that they are both monitoring the situation.

It’s added however that European giants Juventus, Real Madrid and PSG are the current favourites to land him however once his contract at Old Trafford expires.

The man dubbed as a “phenomenon” by former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, Pogba’s career at United has been a bit of a bumpy one, and the chance for a fresh start elsewhere could be the key to unlocking his real potential.

In a column for The Telegraph, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher had this to say about the United man: “There would be one name on the top of my list (to sell): Paul Pogba.

“The Pogba phenomenon, his status as one of the greatest players of his age, is bewildering. His reputation exceeds his contribution. I have heard Pogba described as world-class. Being a World Cup winner does not automatically make you that. There is a difference between a world-class talent and a world-class player.”

Meanwhile, his agent, Mino Raiola, has never been shy to wax lyrical about his client, having these remarkable words to say about the midfielder: “Paul is a work of art. Not the Mona Lisa, though, but more pop. Pogba is like a painting by Basquiat. No one knows his value. Everyone likes when I say that he is worth 100, 120 or 130 million. The fact is that the market is a sport in itself.”

There’s no doubting that with his achievements at international level with France as a World Cup winner, Pogba has the big name and personality that would help to attract other players who