Leicester City line up duo to replace Harry Maguire Leicester City are on the verge of signing two centre backs, which would pave the way for the club to sell Harry Maguire to Manchester United. Leicester expect United to make a late bid for Maguire and they value the England defender at £65 million. They have prepared for the possibility of his departure by agreeing deals to sign Caglar Soyuncu, from Freiburg, and Filip Benkovic, of Dynamo Zagreb, for a combined £33.5 million but Claude Puel will still bring in both players even if Maguire remains at the club. Maguire appears to have emerged as United’s best option as José Mourinho desperately tries to bolster his squad before the transfer window closes tomorrow. Bayern Munich valued Jérôme Boateng at nearly £45 million, while Tottenham Hotspur want about £65 million for Toby Alderweireld. Both players are 29, four years older than Maguire.
United initially wanted to sign Boateng on loan, but Bayern rejected that idea. Sport Bild, the reputable German newspaper, claimed last night that Boateng called Mourinho to tell him that he did not want to join United. They said that Niko Kovac, the Bayern Munich manager, persuaded him to stay at the German club and fight for his place in the team instead.
Tottenham said there has been no bid yet from United for Alderweireld. He is in the final year of his contract, which includes an option to extend it for a further season. However, the same clause allows Alderweireld to leave for £25.4 million before the final 14 days of the transfer window next summer.
Maguire is Leicester’s only centre back under 30 — Jonny Evans is 30, Yohan Benalouane 31 and Wes Morgan 34. Soyuncu, 22, will cost £20 million and has been offered £50,000 a week. Benkovic, 21, will be £13.5 million and has had a medical with the club. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/leicester-city-line-up-duo-to-replace-harry-maguire-bpx862l7v [ 此帖被羅力亞在2018-08-10 01:06重新編輯 ]