Jose Mourinho could not have asked for a better weekend, with a Community Shield victory over Premier League champions Leicester City bring topped off by the news that Paul Pogba is closing in on his much anticipated return to Old Trafford. Despite being early favourites in the football tips to earn a victory at Wembley, goals from Jesse Lingard and new boy Zlatan Ibrahimović were enough to see off the threat of Ranieri’s men. United revealed shortly before kick-off that Pogba had been granted permission by Juventus to undergo a medical with United, with the Frenchman expected to complete his transfer by Tuesday at the latest.
Bookmakers Coral have now suspended the betting on the world record deal for Pogba, with United expected to pay in the region of £89 million for the 23-year-old, just four years after the midfielder left on a free transfer under Sir Alex Ferguson. United’s odds to win the Premier League this year have shortened at Coral as a result of Pogba’s imminent arrival, with Mourinho’s men now tipped to take it at just 3/1 in the football tips online. United’s spending has now reached over the £150 million mark, with Ibrahimović, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly making it an extremely successful transfer window at Old Trafford.
Bailly collected the man of the match award after Sunday’s win at Wembley in what was his first competitive fixture for the club, with the Ivorian now at 25/1 with Coral to be the highest points scoring defender in fantasy football this season. An all action display from the 22-year-old certainly demonstrated his potential to the United faithful, with a potential partnership with Chris Smalling something to look forward to in the near future.
With Ibrahimović having scored his second goal in just his third appearance for United, Coral have installed the mercurial Swede at 10/1 in the football tips to be named the PFA player of the year come the end of the upcoming season. The former PSG man will certainly bring much to the United team, with Mourinho already praising his impact both on and off the pitch. Ibrahimović looks certain to start United’s opening league fixture of the season away to Bournemouth, and is 6/1 with Coral to open the scoring.
