MANCHESTER United star Paul Pogba has been named for his team’s pre-season trip to Perth, but speculation continues to swirl about where he will play next season.
United are due to touch down in Perth on Monday afternoon local time ahead of friendlies against Perth Glory on Saturday night and Leeds United four days later.
Pogba’s future remains up in the air, with his agent already publicly expressing the star midfielder’s wish to leave the English Premier League giants.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWJuventus and Real Madrid are reported to be the teams chasing Pogba, who still has two more years remaining on his United contract.
Pogba returned to Manchester United training on Sunday following a recent trip to New York, and was officially listed in the club’s 28-man travelling party for its trips to Perth, Singapore, and China.
Manchester United will fly to Perth in a luxury private plane, and the focus will centre on whether Pogba is on the flight.
New signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James were also named in the travelling squad, as well as Romelu Lukaku, who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
Brazilian midfielder Fred and defender Matteo Darmian will join the tour at a later date due to family reasons.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said the pre-season tour was important preparation ahead of the August 9 start of the EPL season.
“We’ve got six weeks until the league starts so we can’t take it easy,” Solskjaer said.
“They’ve all had their individual programs and are in good shape from day one, so we’ve put them through their paces.”
Glory will be missing a host of their best players against Manchester United.
Andy Keogh is overseas to attend his brother’s wedding, while Glory captain Diego Castro is yet to return for pre-season training.
Chris Ikonomidis (shoulder surgery) and Dino Djulbic (knee) will also miss the match.
MANCHESTER UNITED 2019 PRE-SEASON TRAVELLING SQUAD
Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Lee Grant, Joel Pereira, Sergio Romero.
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Axel Tuanzebe, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young.
Midfielders: Tahith Chong, James Garner, Angel Gomes, Daniel James, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba.
Forwards: Mason Greenwood, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford.
*Matteo Darmian and Fred will join the tour at a later date due to family reasons.