The 2021/22 season is in full swing, but directors of the big clubs are constantly thinking ahead and planning their next moves in the transfer market. Real Madrid are considering moves for two Premier League stars – Antonio Rudiger and Paul Pogba.Does Pogba deserve what he is allegedly asking for – half-a-million USD per-week?These two players are in vastly different situations. Chelsea’s German international defender Rudiger will be out of contract in June and is obviously reluctant to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge. Should he decline any approach by the Blues’ directors, he would be free to negotiate with any club starting from 1 January 2022, sign a pre-contract agreement and move with no transfer fee involved. There are shades of this year’s agreement with David Alaba. The Austria international declined all offers from Bayern and waited until the call from Madrid arrived. A deal was struck and Los Blancos got a world-class player free of charge. And it proved to be a sweet way of securing new players. President Florentino Perez will attempt to get Rudiger to follow in Alaba’s footsteps and join the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu outfit.##NAJAVA_MECA_5938648##Meanwhile, Manchester United’s French midfielder Pogba is looking increasingly likely to leave the club on a free transfer – for the second time. The Red Devils are accepting the midfielder will not sign an extension and they will lose the World Cup winner in June.Although Pogba is believed to be keen on playing for Real Madrid, his huge $34 million per year salary has previously been a stumbling block for the Spanish team. But if there is no transfer fee involved, Perez might greenlight the swoop for the former Juventus midfielder. Having progressed through the famed United academy, Pogba signed for Juventus in 2012 – for no fee – before returning to the Premier League four years later. It’s another case of history repeating.Real Madrid calling – Tuchel’s farewell to a countryman?Shopping is fun – but it’s a lot easier when the price tag says “free”.
