For example, whilst Pogba was staying at the club our best possible balanced team that utelised him was probably this in my opinion
Rice
Bruno - Pogba
Its balanced with a version of Fernandinho that maybe a little less technically capable but at the same time we are playing 2 attacking CAM that are more capable playing CM role than the City attacking midfielders ever were either.
Now look at the transfer rumours that has come up since the Pogba to PSG transfer news -
1. We are looking at Ruben Neves as a deep lying playmaker. If Pogba leaves our only creative player from deep has gone. Ruben Neves allows Ole to stick to the 4231 (not a fan of this but oh well). We get a new CDM in Ruben Neves with some creativity from deep. I personally don't think he can play 433 by being the sole CDM so will need another CDM partner playing next to him.
2. Saul as a potential CM player. Pogba is a player that played in the double pivot as one of the CDM and as one of our CM. We will be losing both and we need an extra CM if Pogba goes so I'm not replaced we are looking at Saul.
Rice doesn't make sense with players like Ruben Neves and Saul in my opinion and I'm not surprised to see the interest dying down whilst Pogba looks like he maybe leaving.
I'm kind of not a fan of Pogba and his ego - but at the same time I do feel that Rice, Pogba and Bruno was personally to me the most closest to a title winning midfield team we could get this season. Some may say that Neves and Saul and Bruno can win a premier league title - I'm not so sure that it's that capable or balanced. I guess we will have to wait and see.