Our Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern are wondering what has happened to their returning star Paul Pogba in recent weeks.

Pogba has been given the curly finger twice against Spurs and Newcastle in recent weeks and was dropped for the Huddersfield game in between. It’s hard for our regulars to get in their head that a £89m player is not setting the team alight and he’s certainly coming under some harsh criticism of late.

Although Pogba isn’t playing in his favoured left side of the attacking trio position, his overall play has somewhat declined. Indeed, it doesn’t seem as if he has a natural home and his relationship with Mourinho of late may look somewhat frosty after his dip in form.

If Pogba is going to be the catalyst for change at Old Trafford, then he needs to seriously up his game because at the moment youth academy graduates and retiring footballers are getting the nod ahead of him. With that in mind, our landlord thinks it’s time to possibly sell the Frenchman and he gives TWO reasons why…

Can’t Accommodate Him

Paul Pogba at Juventus was every bit worth his price tag, there’s no doubt about it. Indeed, he was playing some unbelievable football and heavily influenced the Italian giants in an advanced left-sided attacking position. However, since his move back to Old Trafford things have been up and down for the midfielder, often going missing in games or the polar opposite and controlling the play.

Yet, Mourinho favours his 4-2-3-1 formation with Pogba as a deep-lying playmaker, something he’s struggling with. Now, following the arrival of Alexis Sanchez, the form of Jesse Lingard and the pace of Anthony Martial, Mourinho simply can not accommodate the Frenchman’s needs.

Lacks the discipline

Mourinho demands a lot from his players, going forward and defensively. As Pogba is playing in one of the two holding midfield roles, he has to track back as much as going forward and his lack of discipline in this area is one of Mourinho’s major cause for concern.

If the Portuguese coach feels he can’t trust a player fully to do the job he sets out, often that player is benched and feels the wrath of the Mourinho cold-shoulder treatment.