Paul Pogba has been told he would be welcomed with open arms by players into the dressing room at Chelsea or Liverpool after his Manchester United departure was confirmed.
A decade on from leaving Old Trafford for the first time - when he joined Italian side Juventus - Pogba is yet again available on a free transfer this summer window. Juventus are expected to come calling back for his signature and there, too, remains strong interest in the 29-year-old from Real Madrid and PSG.
Pogba could potentially stay put in the UK, as well, but while he was initially on the radar for Manchester City, that particular option has fallen by the wayside. Given his stature and possible wage requests, that leaves not too many alternatives for the departing United academy graduate.
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Speaking about Pogba on radio station talkSPORT, former Premier League striker turned pundit Darren Bent said: "For someone with that much quality, the most frustrating thing is when you see him put on the France shirt, you want that level of performance for United. He's playing in a good team for France, a better team.
"I know he's not been good enough [for United], but he's a good player. He hasn't been a success, but he has won two trophies there. It hasn't worked and they paid a lot of money for a footballer who's leaving them for nothing."
Bent added: "There will be a real admiration for Paul Pogba amongst other players in the Premier League from the players who have played against him. Other players in that Chelsea squad will think; 'I would love a player like that to come here'.
"Fans will see it differently and say; 'He doesn't work hard enough, it didn't work at United, why do we want him? But players think differently. It will be the same with Liverpool. Fans might think he wouldn't suit the system, but I bet there's Liverpool players who would want him."
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