Report: United will reject January offers for Juventus-linked Pogba

Paul Pogba will not be granted a return to Juventus or a switch to any other club in the January transfer window, according to ESPN FC's Mark Ogden.

The Manchester United midfielder was benched for the second consecutive match in Saturday's visit from Fulham, with Jose Mourinho stating the 25-year-old must "play with the same mentality" as his teammates to earn a recall. However, the Portuguese manager revealed Pogba will start in the midweek Champions League meeting with Valencia.

Pogba's apparent discord with Mourinho - there was a widely reported fallout earlier in the season over a clip the Frenchman posted on Instagram - has led to suggestions that a move will be considered by both parties. Pogba's form this season hasn't reached the influential levels of his victorious World Cup campaign with France, and he controversially declared his want for United to adopt more attacking tactics. There were allegations that Mourinho branded Pogba a "virus" following a 2-2 draw with Southampton on Dec. 1.

Juventus are understood to be among some of Pogba's likeliest suitors. The Italian champions picked up Pogba from United in 2012, and he went on to establish himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe before his then-record £89-million transfer back to United four years later. Ogden also notes a strong working relationship between Juventus and United, with board members from each club often conversing.

Barcelona are expected to join the Pogba pursuit if he is made available, but their wage bill would have to be slashed to make room for the player's salary. An approach is unlikely to come as soon as January, but there could be enough time to slacken the financial constraints by next summer's window.