United confident Pogba deal was legal

FIFA's transfer ban imposed on Chelsea has, as expected, opened up a can of worms regarding the tapping up of players.

Chelsea were banned last week from registering any new players until 2011 for improper conduct when they signed Gael Kakuta from French club Lens in 2007.

And already accusations have been lodged at United over the signing of Paul Pogba.

Le Harve have alleged that United acted illegally and intimidated them and are ready to go to FIFA, however the champions have reacted swiftly and chief executive David Gill has refuted the allegations.

"It's not intimidation but they can't insult us," Gill said.

"We are not intimidating Le Havre, we have no intention of intimidating Le Havre, they can take whatever action they fell appropriate.

"We have done everything by the book, we are confident in that, they can take whatever action, we won't be insulted by Le Havre.

"It's an insult by Le Havre to suggest that Manchester United and employees of Manchester United have paid the parents and bought the player's parents a house.

"We will not accept the good name of Manchester United being trawled around websites and the press saying we have done these things we are not allowed to do.

"If they want to take action, they can take action, we will defend our case in the football bodies, we are very comfortable about doing that."

There's no doubt that players have been poached illegally from clubs throughout Europe over the last few years, but United remain confident they are innocent.

It remains to be seen whether United will be forced to have a case to answer with Le Harve insistent they have evidence of United offering Pogba £3,500 a week from when he is 17 in March.

It will be interesting to see how, if more clubs have fines imposed on them for transfer deals, the Premier League betting odds shift.