COMMENT: So what was it? An 'if'? Or a 'when'? Just what did Ole Gunnar Solskjaer disclose to Timo Werner back in February about Manchester United's plans for Paul Pogba...?
It's just emerged that Solskjaer met face-to-face with Chelsea's imminent new striker back in February. Burned by the Haaland family and Mino Raiola, the United manager's determination to find a new, long-term No9 wasn't knocked. Just as he did with Erling Haaland, before the then Red Bull Salzburg striker would commit himself to Borussia Dortmund, Solskjaer flew to Germany to meet with Red Bull Leipzig's striker to discuss a potential summer switch to Old Trafford.
And the story rings true. As this column revealed near the start of the season, Werner, like Haaland, were on Solskjaer's shortlist of names under consideration as he sought United's next, big goalscorer signing. He wanted - and still does - a player rapid across the pitch, a known scorer and one capable of playing with his back to goal, even if it's not his strength. Haaland was the archetype. Werner does come close. And for United fans, rest assured the manager remains steadfast in finding that new striker addition.
Moussa Dembele, of Lyon, is the next cab off the rank. And there is serious interest. But after the instant impact of Bruno Fernandes, don't discount a return to Portugal. Solskjaer - and his scouts - have been active in the Primeira Liga these past 18 months. That story about Carlos Vinicius hasn't been plucked out of thin air. Like Werner. Like Haaland. The Benfica centre-forward fits the mould. 25, rapid and with an eye for goal. The comparisons with Porto great Mario Jardel are worthy. That shortlist of Solskjaer's is diminishing, but there's still some good options out there to satisfy his needs.
But it's the conversation Solskjaer had with Werner which offers even more into what he and his staff have planned for this summer. The story goes that Solskjaer assured the German of his interest, but any deal hinged on the sale of Pogba. Whether it was an 'if' the No6 would be sold or 'when', the details are sketchy, but what can be deduced is that Solskjaer was so resolute about Pogba that he was willing to raise his sale in the company of people outside the club.
Of course, this conversation was held in February. And attitudes can change. But have they? Well, from what this column knows, the short answer is 'no'. As we've mentioned in recent weeks, the favoured option for club and manager is to move forward withoutPaul Pogba. The praise. The support. All in public. That's one thing. But behind the scenes there remains hope - even if both sides aren't communicating as such - that a split can happen.
For the moment, Solskjaer is keeping his own counsel. With an FA Cup and Europa League title to play for - and a top four finish to claim - United will need everyone rowing in the same direction. A season which would still be running for months, will now be completed in weeks. Solskjaer needs Pogba - just as he'll need every fit body available to him. This isn't the time to play personalities.
But the manager is moving the team forward with Pogba as an afterthought. Proof of that was Saturday's intra-club friendly at Old Trafford. An opportunity to bed down Pogba alongside Fernandes. To fulfill claims of the scribes and pundits so convinced that this was the dream midfield combination Solskjaer had been searching for...
Well, for Saturday's 11 v 11 bounce game, Fernandes lined up in one half and Pogba... the other. With ten days to go before the Premier League's restart, the idea that Solskjaer is about to break a system that has worked so well with Fernandes at the helm... all to accommodate Pogba... well it didn't ring true on Saturday.
And adding further to the Leipzig conversation and Old Trafford's kickabout was news in the Sunday morning press that the focus now was to get a deal for Jack Grealish over the line.
It's a transfer waiting to happen. Solskjaer wants it. Grealish wants it. And Aston Villa accept it'll happen. It's now about the two clubs reaching terms they can both be satisfied with.
That United have pulled back from talks with the minders of Jadon Sancho to prioritise the Grealish deal does - again - suggest the future is being planned without Pogba.
Villa's captain will arrive as the Frenchman's direct replacement. Grealish isn't throwing away what he has with Villa to be a permanent reserve. Nor to be played out of position on a wing. And Solskjaer, to be fair, feels the same. He sees Grealish at the centre of things. On the ball. In all three thirds of the ground. The pitch made to the 24 year-old is that United's game will be played through him.
Giving up the captaincy and his status with Villa to be an understudy just isn't in Grealish's personality. If he arrives, someone will have to make room.
It may've been an 'if', or even a 'when', but given last week's revelations, you just wonder if what he's been told is the same as Solskjaer informed Werner back in February.
