Paul Pogba's failed move to Burnley and how it could have saved Man Utd millions

Paul Pogba has been at the centre of plenty of transfer speculation over the past 12 months, as he was 11 years ago.

The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to decide where his future lies, though United have offered the midfielder a new deal.

Ever since returning to Old Trafford in 2016, Pogba's time at the club has been filled with criticism.

Many have questioned the attitude of the playmaker and also asked why he has been able to consistently perform well on a weekly basis in the Premier League despite always being outstanding with the France national team.

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Pogba joined United in 2009 having come through the academy at Le Havre, and was tipped to go to the very top.

And two years later, the midfielder almost found himself on his way to Turf Moor to join Burnley on a season-long loan.

As Mirror Football reported in 2011, then-Clarets boss Eddie Howe was keen to sign the midfielder in a bid to inject a burst of young talent into his Championship side though were willing to wait until he had made his first-team debut in the Carling Cup before putting pen to paper on a move.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson ruled that he would not let his exciting young prospect leave the Red Devils for at least another season.

The Scotsman told the media: "It's more difficult to loan a boy of 18 who's come from France.

"We prefer to keep him with us until we find he's mature enough to possibly go on loan.

"Maybe next year that could be an option, but we're definitely expecting him this season to stay with Manchester United.''

Pogba would have starred alongside Dean Marney, Charlie Austin and coincidentally now-teammate Lee Grant at Burnley and earned some much-needed game time.

However, Ferguson's decision to keep Pogba in their ranks proved costly - £89.3 million costly, precisely.

The youngster played just 68 minutes of Premier League football in the campaign and was restricted to a few cup appearances, though he mainly just played for the reserves.

Of course, considering how he had been tipped to be a future star, the lack of appearances led to Pogba questioning if there was actually a pathway for him into the first team and whether he should renew his contract at the club.

The 2016 World Cup winner's mum, Yeo Moriba, told AFP of how Ferguson tried to persuade her son to stay, but the request fell on deaf ears.

She said: "I said 'What? Ferguson coming to my house? He came alone.

"We had got together with his brother and decided that he won't re-sign. Ferguson punished him, he didn't play him, Paul was alone. He even cried in Ferguson's office over the way he was being treated."

Ferguson froze Pogba out of the team towards the end of the season and would rather play fullbacks Fabio and Rafael da Silva in midfield rather than Pogba, so his departure was no great shock.

If Ferguson had allowed the central midfielder to be loaned to Burnley for the season then one would expect a new deal would probably have been agreed, especially if the loan spell had accelerated Pogba's development and proved that he is ready for the Premier League.

He moved to Juventus and excelled in the Serie A, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young talents in world football.

And fast-forward until today, a move to another club wearing black and white might be what gets the 28-year-old's career back on track.

If Howe, who travelled to Manchester to scout Pogba in 2011, remains interested in the midfielder then Newcastle certainly have the financial capabilities to sign him at the end of the season, and the player is open to a move to another Premier League side according to The Telegraph.

Although he would have to sacrifice European football, being the face of a club that plans to propel itself into being one of the best around could be an attractive proposition.