Man City to offer Juve pick of players as Pellegrini chases Pogba

Manchester City have travelled to Turin to register their transfer intentions and tempt Italian giants Juventus with a player part-exchange for Paul Pogba, according to reports.

The Sky Blues are tipped to storm a march on Europe’s elite for former Manchester United midfielder Pogba, who left Old Trafford to join Juve (6/1 with Coral to win the Champions League) in 2012, and have apparently offered a pick and mix of top players for the Turin team to choose from.

Seemingly unsettled midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure has supposedly been put forward to the Old Lady as a makeweight in any potential deal, though one or more of Samir Nasri, Aleksandar Kolarov, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko (that latter trio all previously linked) could also be included as sweeteners should the Italian outfit wish.

Former Golden Boy Pogba, 22, would likely be a direct and long-term replacement for tenacious Toure, 31, whose physical presence, drive and goal threat from midfield has been integral to the Citizens’ success and gameplan over his five season stint at the Manchester club.

Despite racking up a career-best 20 goals last term, Ivory Coast international Toure has failed to make the same impact this season, and has struggled to cement a position in Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI.

France dynamo Pogba, meanwhile, has had an excellent campaign with Serie A champions Juventus, hitting 10 across all competitions, and could return in time to help the club navigate a Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, in which he is 11/2 to strike anytime.

Madrid are also said to hold a strong interest in powerful Pogba, along with rivals the Red Devils and Barcelona, yet City hold perhaps the strongest hand should Juventus want to take part in a cash plus player deal.

The Old Lady are believed to want to cling onto their prize asset, with the future of pass-master Andrea Pirlo also in doubt, and are rumoured to value young Les Bleus prodigy Pogba at around £71.5m.

It is doubtful that, considering restrictions of financial fair play, the Citizens, who are believed to be ready to revamp their squad with a host of expensive English talent, including the likes of Saido Berahino, Danny Rose and Jack Wilshere, would fork out such a high fee.

Perhaps Juve would benefit more from prioritising a part-exchange over cold hard cash, especially with such a raft of talent on offer. Wingman Nasri, injury-prone attacker Jovetic and Bosnia hitman Dzeko, may have had poor seasons but could still star in Serie A, while flying wing back Kolarov could usurp ageing Patrice Evra, and midfield man Toure would be a perfect stop-gap replacement for Pogba.