Former England striker Darren Bent believes Jurgen Klopp will have held talks with Paul Pogba over a controversial move to Liverpool.
The World Cup winner, 29, is out of contract and several top European clubs will be interested in signing him this summer. Yet the club he's leaving is Manchester United - Liverpool's arch rivals, therefore few would expect Pogba to make the daring switch to Merseyside.
Despite this, Bent thinks both Klopp and Pep Guardiola - manager of United's local rivals Manchester City - would've spoken to Pogba. Reports suggest City's director of football Txiki Begiristain presented the midfielder with an attractive offer, yet nothing materialised due to his links with United.
"You say Klopp and Pep wouldn’t touch him [Pogba], I bet they’ve probably looked at the scenario and I bet they’ve had a conversation with him," Bent told talkSPORT via the Liverpool ECHO.
"You know what all great managers are like, they always think that even though that player has been a problem elsewhere, I can get the best out of him. I can guarantee you that Pep and Klopp think they can get the best out of any player on the planet."
The former Tottenham and Aston Villa forward went on to say: "I know he hasn’t been good enough [for United] but he is a good player. He hasn’t been a success but he has won two trophies there. It hasn’t worked and they’ve paid a lot of money for a footballer who’s now leaving for nothing.
Would Paul Pogba leave Manchester United for Liverpool? Let us know in the comments below!
"I don’t know if Chelsea fans will want him to join, but I wonder if some of the players would. Footballers will think differently to fans. I think other players, players in the Chelsea squad, will think 'I would love a player like that to come here'. Players think differently. It will be the same with Liverpool."
Pogba is tipped to re-join his former club Juventus this summer, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also thought to be interested in signing him. The France international has a fine CV, winning the World Cup, four Serie A titles and other honours. but has failed to deliver at Old Trafford.
Pogba, who graduated from United's academy, returned to Manchester in 2016 for a world-record transfer fee of £89million and was expected to help them challenge for the Premier League and Champions League.
The 2016-17 season was a success, helping United win the Europa League and EFL Cup. But they failed to win silverware during the next five years. The Red Devils finished sixth in the Premier League this term, recording their lowest points tally (58) since 1989-90.
Playing for either Liverpool or Man City would be an attractive proposition for any top footballer. Klopp's side won the FA Cup and EFL Cup this season. They also reached the final of the Champions League and finished second in the Premier League.
Guardiola's side won the latter competition, finishing a point ahead of the Reds to claim their fourth title in five years. They've also lifted plenty of cups at Wembley in recent years and are one of the favourites to win the Champions League next season.
