Newcastle United will have to offer Paul Pogba up to £400,000-per-week in order to entice the Manchester United midfielder to St James' Park, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Magpies became the richest club in world football when the Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund completed the £305million takeover of the Tynesiders in October and they would have to flex their financial muscles in order to clinch Pogba's services.
What's the latest news involving Pogba?
According to Spanish media outlet Fichajes, Newcastle entered the race to sign Pogba at the turn of the year.
The report suggests Magpies head coach Eddie Howe is keen to make the 28-year-old World Cup winner one of the club's marquee signings when the transfer window reopens in the summer, while Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus also hold an interest.
Pogba looks certain to leave Manchester United at the season's climax as his contract, worth £290,000-per-week, expires at the end of June and the midfielder has shown no interest in agreeing fresh terms despite the Red Devils offering a new deal worth £500,000-per-week.
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan - who is now a pundit on talkSPORT - has claimed Newcastle's financial acumen will not be enough to tempt Pogba to St James' Park but, should it come off, he would prove to be a statement signing.
According to Calciomercato, via Juve FC, ex-employers Juventus have made the central midfielder their top transfer target.
Due to Pogba entering the final six months of his deal at the turn of the year, the Serie A giants are in a position to already negotiate terms over a pre-contract agreement.
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What has Dean Jones said about Pogba?
Among Newcastle's January signings were Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier, who joined for £40million and £12million from Lyon and Atletico Madrid respectively.
Jones feels the Magpies will have to offer Pogba a contract more lucrative than those obtained by Guimaraes and Trippier if they want to attract the 89-cap France international to St James' Park.
The transfer insider told GIVEMESPORT: "Guimaraes has come in now as the top earner and Trippier before him.
"Paul Pogba is triple that amount. His next move will probably be triple because he will go as a free agent, so you're going to be looking for £350,000 or £400,000-a-week.
"Newcastle can't be paying Pogba £400,000-per-week."
What do Guimaraes and Trippier earn at Newcastle?
According to ESPN, Guimaraes became Newcastle's highest-earner by penning a contract worth £120,000-per-week when he joined in January.
That resulted in the midfielder quadrupling the salary he boasted while on the books of former employers Lyon.
Prior to Guimaraes' move to Tyneside, Trippier had become the Magpies' top earner, with his pay package understood to be in the region of £100,000-per-week.