Report: United hope to begin Pogba extension talks in coming weeks

Manchester United want to begin negotiating a contract extension for Paul Pogba in the coming weeks, sources told ESPN's Julien Laurens.

The midfielder's current deal runs until 2021 and includes a club option for an additional year.

Pogba publicly expressed a desire to leave Manchester United in the summer, but it's now hoped he'll become the third key player to extend his stay after David De Gea and Victor Lindelof both inked extensions earlier in September. The Frenchman's desire to move to Real Madrid in the close season was never met with an offer from Zinedine Zidane's outfit, Laurens reports.

The relationship between Manchester United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, could be a possible advantage for the side during contract talks. Pogba hasn't fully ruled out staying at United, sources told Laurens, so Woodward and Raiola could potentially find an arrangement to convince the 26-year-old his future would be better spent at Old Trafford than at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Pogba, who is also viewed as a critical part of United's marketing strategy, has amassed 99 Premier League appearances, scoring 24 goals. He will miss Sunday's match against West Ham United with an ankle problem.