Paul Pogba: Massimiliano Allegri 'not afraid' to lose midfielder amid interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has admitted that the club will be powerless to stop Paul Pogba from leaving the club despite their "great desire" to keep him beyond this summer. Manchester United and Real Madrid have been linked with a move for the French midfielder, but they will have to match the Turin club's valuation to get the transfer over the line.

The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world following his move to Juventus from Manchester United in 2012. He has won four consecutive Serie A titles and is now one of the most coveted players across Europe.

"I'm not afraid of losing Pogba because both I and the club want to keep hold of him," Allegri said, as quoted by ESPN FC.

"At this moment in time, Paul is our player, but nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, even if we have a great desire to keep him here.

"He's grown a lot and his second half of the season was extraordinary."

Jose Mourinho is keen to take the France international back to Old Trafford this summer, and according to the Independent, made Pogba his priority transfer. The Red Devils, however, will have to pay considerably more than the £800,000 the Italian club paid as compensation when they signed him four years ago.

The Portuguese manager, however, will face competition for his signature from Real Madrid, with the 11-time Champions League winners big admirers of the midfielder. Zinedine Zidane is keen to take him to the Santiago Bernabeu, but will have to part with a world record fee to do so.

According to Gazzetta World, the Italian Champions have slapped a €160m price tag on the midfielder and will insist clubs match their valuation to sign the French midfielder. The Spanish capital club and the Red Devils are likely to negotiate, but will have to pay a premium to sign the most coveted midfielder in Europe.

Juventus have already prepared themselves for a possible departure and confirmed the signing of Miralem Pjanic from AS Roma. The Bosnia international had an impressive season with the Serie A side and plays in the same position as the Frenchman.