Real Madrid are planning to use the money they got from Arsenal for Martin Odegaard to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United according to a report from Spain.

Real Madrid needed money, Martin Odegaard needed a place to call home and Arsenal desperately needed a creative player. As a result, Martin Odegaard is now an Arsenal player and Real Madrid are £31.5m (plus bonuses) better off.

Paul Pogba’s future has been the source of constant speculation ever since he returned to United in 2016 and links with Real Madrid have never been far from the papers. Now, after selling Odegaard, ABC in Spain claim that Real Madrid allowed Odegaard to sign for Arsenal so they could sign Pogba – but not until next summer. His agent, Mino Raiola is determined, apparently, to get him to the Bernabeau.

Pogba is said to be aiming for a free transfer next summer as more players realise what Arsene Wenger predicted would happen – if they run down their deals, they get to keep all the transfer money.

Pogba is out of contract next summer and, as a result, Real Madrid are said to be planning ahead to pay for his wages and signing on bonus as they target him as a ‘quiet replacement’ for Luka Modric.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently said:, “I expect him to be here when September 1 comes [after the transfer window closes on August 31].

“I’m not worried whatsoever that the length of any player’s contract changes the level of their motivation.

“You can’t expect to score five goals every game but you do expect the attitude to be right every game. I have no worries about Paul whatsoever.

“He’s enjoying his football and my job is to make sure we’re getting the best out of Paul.”