Barcelona will continue to pursue Paul Pogba after the summer transfer window closes on August 31 with the Spanish club well aware of the midfielder’s issues at Manchester United.

Barcelona privately accept that United will not sell Pogba this month but will continue their interest in the way they also eventually signed Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool last January.

It is believed the deal is being driven by Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola with Barcelona happy to be brought into it especially if it means that they can get the player, who cost United £89million and has three years left on his contract, for a reduced price.

Although Barcelona’s initial offer for Pogba, which included a lower cash sum of around 50million euros plus two players in Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes – with buy-back clauses – they did so in the knowledge it would be rejected out-of-hand by United.

They are likely to return in January or even next summer with a vastly improved offer for the 25-year-old and will closely monitor both his mood and his relationship with Mourinho.

Barcelona, despite claims otherwise, insist that they do have the money to buy a player like Pogba and had earmarked funds to bring in Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid before he signed a new contract.