Instagram dances, Chelsea gamble, Man United decision - Can Paul Pogba return to Premier League?

Former Manchester United man Paul Pogba will be making plans for his return to football, but is the Premier League really a viable option?

Now 31, Pogba was once tipped to lead a generation of midfielders. He was given two attempts to do so at Old Trafford, first joining in 2007 as a budding youth talent who would underwhelmingly be sold to Juventus instead of agreeing a new contract. He would later cost Man United a then-English-record fee of £89.3m to bring back in 2016, and it speaks volumes when the only highlight to truly speak of in that period was his World Cup win with France in 2018.

Come 2022 it was time to part ways again, he moved back to Juventus though in September of last year a four-year doping ban would bring a halt to his career. This has now been cut down to only 18 months, meaning he can begin to play professionally again once March arrives, though with whom it is undecided as the Italian giants terminated his contract last week.

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Whilst there may not necessarily be a third bite of the cherry with Man United, the Frenchman is training in Miami currently before his ban is lifted and wants to return to European football. ESPN claimed as such, and he told them: "My main focus right now is just to get myself ready. I keep training and everything. Get ready for being able to join a team in January."

Here, our MEN Sport writers hand out their verdicts on whether we should see Pogba grace the turf in an English top-flight fixture ever again...

James Quinlan

It would be interesting to see Paul Pogba back in the Premier League with someone other than Man United. Perhaps a different role or different pressures both on and off the field will allow him to better express himself.

But really it is going to be a gamble whoever would dare to take him on, as it would be midway through a season and ultimately football is not going to be won by the odd flash of individual brilliance. The reason the likes of Brighton, Brentford and Nottingham Forest are doing so well is that they stick to a system, ones that Pogba would not suit.

In a similar way the last thing the teams fighting towards the bottom of the table need is this kind of player. That just leaves the top-four and title challengers unspoken for, and as brutal as it may be they are too good for Pogba nowadays.

Matty Hewitt

Paul Pogba returning to the Premier League certainly wasn't on my bingo card at the start of the season. That being said, I'd love to see him return but I don't think it's a realistic option.

The greatest league in the world needs the greatest characters, but it's fair to say a return to Old Trafford should not be something Manchester United consider. That boat has well and truly sailed and given the length of Pogba's ban, it would be a risk for whichever club decides to sign him.

In truth, I think the World Cup winner will probably opt for the MLS, Saudi Arabia or France before a return to England. Pogba was inconsistent at Old Trafford and the jury is still out on whether he'd be able to compete at the top level given the length of time banned from football.

At 31-years-old, he's approaching the latter stages of his career and I can't see bottom half clubs taking a risk on his services, nor can I see European contenders making an approach so late in the season. The fact he can't play until March puts another hurdle in the way.

If a Premier League club does sign the Frenchman, it'll be with next season in mind and realistically, few clubs can afford to wait until then. His wages also pose a significant stumbling blog, though he had hinted he'd be willing to take a pay cut to stay at Juve - whether or not that applies at his new club remains to be seen.

Isaac Johnson

I do think Pogba could play in the Premier League again - if (a big if) he returns to the required fitness levels. But for who is a different question. Certainly not a top six team.

Chelsea have a tendency to say yes to every player that winks at them but even Todd Boehly would surely think twice about the financial strain his arrival would have, not to mention the potential of upsetting the momentum built up by Enzo Maresca.

That then leads onto the next question; who else could afford him? Newcastle United have the bank balance but not the FFP scope. Aston Villa have no need for him.

Maybe West Ham? Even that sounds outlandish. Pogba, 31, has the capacity to do fine in the Premier League but I can’t see many viable options at this point. The Frenchman would have to eat serious humble pie on his wage demands if he really wanted a return.

Jack Flintham

I can see why a move back to the Premier League would appeal to Pogba. The English top flight offers the chance of a lucrative wage and to test himself against some of the world's best players.

It would also put the Frenchman back in the gaze of the French national team although a return to that set-up is a long way off. Should he return to Premier League football, he needs to be realistic and join a club that would benefit from his experience.

A move to a traditional 'big six' club seems out of the question but I could see him benefiting a team like Newcastle or Aston Villa who have yet to establish themselves as regular European participants. However, my concern if I was Eddie Howe or Unai Emery is whether Pogba can return to match fitness quickly and be willing to put his ego aside to help the team.

The Premier League door is certainly not closed for a player with such talent but he must be willing to prove himself again or else face the reality of a Saudi Pro League or MLS next step.

Richard Garnett

Paul Pogba would be fantastic back in the Premier League - if you lack silly dance routines and Instagram. For someone who was instrumental in winning a World Cup, he's had something of an odd career since, to put it mildly.

Manchester United's quite insane decision to sign the Frenchman in 2016 for a then world record fee of £89.3m after previously having had him in their own academy suggests that no one should completely rule out the absurd possibility of him joining for a third stint. Perhaps he could form a Bridge club with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen?

Sadly, Pogba's bad decisions seem to have outweighed his good moments so a return to the Premier League only really seems plausible for someone like Todd Boehly and Chelsea. But with the Blues finally looking like they have a decent midfield again, I'm afraid the likelihood is that if you want to catch Pogba in action again you'll probably have to check out the Saudi Pro League or get yourself an Apple TV subscription for the MLS.