Paul Pogba pitched West Ham transfer after calamitous Monaco spell
West Ham United have been put forward as a potential landing place for Paul Pogba.
The former France international has had a rough time of things in recent years.
It just didn't work out for him after swapping Juventus for Manchester United as he faced heavy scrutiny in the Premier League.
That ended with a free transfer return to the Old Lady, where his reputation continued to spiral.
The midfielder went on to be banned from football from February 2024 to November 2025 due to alleged doping.
Pogba made his failed return with Monaco and could now be on the move this summer, with a West Ham switch put forward as an idea.
Carlton Cole reacts to Paul Pogba and West Ham transfer suggestion
The Irons are looking ahead to the beginning of their Championship campaign.
They begin with a trip to face Burnley on Sunday and have made just two signings ahead of that outing.
Manor Solomon has most recently come in from Tottenham, while Joel Veltman joined on a free transfer.
The latter could soon be followed by a similar deal as Pogba looks set to be released from his contract at Monaco after just one year there.
That prompted Jason Cundy to ask Carlton Cole whether he would take the midfielder at the London Stadium.
Speaking via talkSPORT on Tuesday, he said: "Let's discuss a story involving Paul Pogba. He's reportedly having his contract terminated by Monaco this summer. He was on £40k-a-week last season, so could be available on the cheap this summer.
"Should Premier League clubs, or even West Ham for that matter, look at Pogba? You guys can afford something like that in the Championship. Would you take Pogba?"
Cole pondered the question before revealing that he would accept the ex-Man United man and 2018 World Cup winner in East London.
The former striker replied: "You know what he's got under the bonnet, you know what he's capable of. £40k-a-week in the Championship, is that something that you think A, would appeal to West Ham and B, would appeal to him?
"I don't know whether he wants to play in the Championship, for one, but he might be short of offers now. Yeah, I would take him."
How much would Pogba cost West Ham?
A Tuesday report from The Athletic outlined that the 33-year-old is set to leave the Ligue 1 outfit.
Talks are said to be ongoing in an effort to terminate his two-year deal after just 12 months.
Pogba hasn't been able to get back to the required fitness levels for Monaco and is being let go as a result.
His exit from Stade Louis II opens him up to a move elsewhere and the London Stadium may well be an option.
Should he remain on the same wage as his deal in The Principality, he would cost just over £2million-per-year.
That wouldn't include potential add-on clauses, but even with those, he could prove to be worth every penny.
It feels extremely pie in the sky from Cole and Cundy as it feels extremely unlikely.
Even still, it is interesting to think what Pogba could do in claret and blue.