It looks like they have contract worries with Welbeck too! I fully expect him to sign though. Chelsea want Pogba?
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Paul Scholes scored a cracker on his Premier League return, but the cheers turned to fears for Alex Ferguson who faces losing THREE of his biggest young stars.
As 37-year-old Scholes was turning back the years, it emerged that exciting young England star Danny Welbeck’s bitter contract stand-off is now a major concern at Manchester United.
The 21-year-old, who has 18 months left on his deal, wants to quadruple his wages to £60,000 a week and that has put him on collision course with Fergie, alerting bitter rivals Manchester City as well as Chelsea.
Welbeck heads a list of three Old Trafford starlets at odds with the club’s money men – French midfielder Paul Pogba and tearaway teenager Ravel Morrison have also turned down fresh terms.
Chelsea are set to launch a £3million bid for 18-year-old Pogba while the troubled Morrison could yet be on his way to Newcastle despite an initial £500,000 Toon bid being rejected only last week.
Welbeck, also on the scoresheet against Bolton yesterday, is heading for Euro 2012 this summer and is determined to land a major pay hike as a reward for the impact he has made since returning from a loan spell at Sunderland last season.
As well as being impressed by the development of Welbeck, Chelsea are planning a £3million move for Pogba.
Agents are believed to be looking for £45,000-a-week deal for the French youngster who has so far failed to start a game outside the Carling Cup for United.
As with Welbeck, United have made what they consider a decent offer to Pogba and have also spoken to Morrison’s agent with the star out of contract this summer.
But Ferguson is dismayed by unrealistic demands from advisors representing all three stars.
Controversial youngster Morrison looks to be the first of the trio heading out of the door.
United’s youth coaches and some senior stars are understood to have been exasperated at Morrison’s attitude but he’s been given the benefit of the doubt because of his talent.
He was involved in a bizarre Twitter exchange last week when he denied he had stolen a watch belonging to Rio Ferdinand and also claimed there was “no contract offer to talk about” from United.
The early Champions League exit has hit the club financially and there are suggestions United have to tighten their belts rather than hand bumper new contracts to young stars like Welbeck, Pogba and Morrison.
A highly-placed United source told People Sport last night: “At the moment United are standing firm on being bullied into paying bigger salaries than certain players could justifiably claim to be worth.
“Welbeck’s people are asking for big money and Pogba’s advisors are doing the same although he hasn’t even played in the Premier League yet.”
