France midfielder Paul Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United moved a step nearer on Sunday as Juventus granted him permission to undergo a medical.

“Yes, Pogba has been authorised to undergo a medical in Manchester,” a Juventus spokesman told AFP.

The 23-year-old — who left United for virtually nothing four years ago — was not with the Juventus squad in London for a friendly with West Ham on Sunday.

Media reports said the French international had already arrived in Manchester, north-west England.

The fee for the transfer is expected to exceed £100 million ($130.4 million, 117.7 million euros) for a player who was able to leave United for just £800,000 in 2012.

His arrival for what would be a world record fee would secure the four signings new United manager Jose Mourinho had set his sights on when he replaced Louis van Gaal at the end of last season.

Pogba would join young Ivorian defender Eric Bailly, Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan and veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in arriving at Old Trafford this summer.

FA Cup holders United face champions Leicester City in the season-opening Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

Source AFP