Twelve months ago, Paul Pogba privately requested to leave Manchester United and got nowhere. He wanted to join Barcelona, only to be told his sale would not be entertained. A year on, the France midfielder seems to have resolved that his best – perhaps only – chance of securing a transfer this summer is to take the situation public.

By agitating for a move, he will hope to force the hand of United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. It is a tactic that has worked for other players in the past and it is one neither Real Madrid nor Juventus would discourage, not if it helps to drive down Pogba’s £160 million valuation.

Quite how big a fuss Pogba is prepared to make remains to be seen, but the clock is ticking and, with United still insisting that the midfielder will be playing for them next season, the ball is back in the player’s court.

The Premier League transfer window closes in 53 days and, if one bears in mind how long it took United to agree an £89 million deal with Juventus for the midfielder three years ago, when there was a willingness by both clubs and the player to do a deal, it is clear that it is not long when there are so many complicating factors.