Manchester United are left with no good options in Paul Pogba situation – unless Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can work some magic

There were echoes of Sir Alex Ferguson in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s staunch public defence of one of his players on Wednesday morning.

Whether or not the Norwegian is genuinely happy with Paul Pogba is a moot point – he knows airing United’s dirty laundry in the open will lead to nothing good.

Nevertheless, where Solskjaer may have to differ from the old master is in the decision of whether or not to jettison a player who has so clearly become a problem.

Read more: ‘It’s business as usual’: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defends Paul Pogba amid Manchester United transfer speculation

Regardless of star power – think Jaap Stam, Roy Keane, David Beckham – Fergie was never afraid to let a player go for the good of the team.

Pogba and his agent Mino Raiola have clearly tried to engineer a move away in recent weeks amid supposed interest from Real Madrid and Juventus and the player’s future is quickly becoming the dominant story at Old Trafford in a summer when the club so desperately need to improve.

Solskjaer backed into a corner

While those who played with Solskjaer insist he has the same ruthless streak as his old boss, the “baby-faced assassin” does not yet have the power to wield it.

27: Pogba scored 16 goals and assisted 11 last season – more than any other Manchester United player

After such a disappointing finish to last season and United’s pull in the transfer market beginning to wane – see Tanguy Ndombele’s decision to join Spurs instead of United – Solskjaer may feel he simply cannot afford to lose Pogba regardless of his problematic behaviour.

Pogba is one of the few players at Old Trafford capable of dragging United back into the top four and letting him go would leave a huge hole they most likely would not be able to re-fill this summer.

If Solskjaer can somehow get Pogba back on side and halt the speculation surrounding his future – and these latest comments suggest that is exactly what he is trying to do – then that could go a long way to deciding United’s success next season.