Man Utd face serious fight to prise Harry Maguire from Leicester
Manchester United have approached Leicester City over Harry Maguire but face a serious fight to prise the England centre-half away from the King Power Stadium.
Jose Mourinho is determined to make Maguire his fourth signing of the summer after midfielder Fred, right back Diogo Dalot and goalkeeper Lee Grant and has told the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, he wants a deal completed before the close of the transfer window on August 9.
But Leicester, who travel to Old Trafford for the opening match of the new Premier League season a day after the window closes, are thought to be reluctant to sell Maguire and are still hoping to persuade the 25-year-old to sign a lucrative new contract.
The 2016 Premier League champions are loathe to lose another big player following Riyad Mahrez’s £60 million move to Manchester City just over a fortnight ago and are not under any financial pressure to sell the defender, whom they consider central to next season’s plans.
Maguire’s stock is also at an all-time high after his impressive showings for England at the World Cup finals in Russia this summer and it means United may have to offer at least £70 million to stand any chance of prising the centre-half from Leicester, an eye-watering sum for a player who cost the Midlands club £17 million from Hull City last summer.
Maguire, who has four years left on his existing deal with Leicester, is understood to be intrigued by the prospect of a move to Old Trafford but he is known to be happy at Leicester and is not expected to agitate for a move in the way Mahrez did.
United are thought to be willing to pay around £60 million with add ons for Maguire after Mourinho prioritised the signing of another centre-half, although the Portuguese is under pressure to offload one of the five central defenders already on the club’s books.
Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly, two Mourinho recruits, are expected to stay for now but the futures of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are unclear.
Rojo only signed a new contract in March that ties him to Old Trafford until June 2021, with the option of another year, and is said to be in no rush to leave. Smalling and Jones are out of contract next summer but United have the option of extending their deals by a further 12 months. Smalling insisted this week that he has no intention of leaving.
Mourinho also wants to sign a winger, with Croatia’s Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebic reported to be in his sights, as uncertainty grows over the future of wantaway France forward Anthony Martial. The United manager would ideally like to buy a left-back, too – Juventus’s Alex Sandro was a target - but he has been told the club cannot continue to stockpile defenders.
Manchester United plan sales to fund Harry Maguire deal
Manchester United are ready to sell Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian to help to fund their purchase of Harry Maguire. They are conscious that Maguire’s value has gone up since his excellent performances at the World Cup for England. It could end up costing the club £65 million to sign the Leicester City centre back.
Rojo will report to Carrington this week after an extended post-World Cup break. He did not fly to America for United’s pre-season tour partly because he had a slight injury, but also because he does not feature in José Mourinho’s plans. Wolverhampton Wanderers are among those interested in the player, who could cost up to £20 million.
United are also looking to raise £15 million by selling Darmian, who has told Mourinho he wants to leave.
Leicester to counter huge bid from Manchester United by offering Harry Maguire new contract
Leicester City are prepared to make Harry Maguire the second highest paid player at the club behind striker Jamie Vardy after warning Manchester United the England centre-half is not for sale.
United are willing to smash the record fee for an English defender by offering in excess of £60 million for Maguire as Jose Mourinho bids to bolster his back line. But Claude Puel wants to build his side around Maguire and Leicester are ready to demonstrate the 25-year-old’s value to them with a new contract worth up to £100,000 a week that would leave the player behind only Vardy in the club’s pay stakes.
Maguire would stand to earn more than that at Old Trafford but Leicester - who allowed Riyad Mahrez to join Manchester City for £60 million earlier this month after rebuffing approaches for the Algeria playmaker in previous windows - insist there is no desire or imperative for them to sell.
Maguire’s financial position has been strengthened by his impressing showings for England at the World Cup in Russia this summer and United’s interest only 12 months after the defender - who has four years left on his existing deal - joined Leicester from Hull City for £17 million.
United approached Leicester this week and will not be easily dissuaded but it could take an eye-watering offer of more than £70 million - close to the world record £75 million fee Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January - to force the Midlands club to soften their stance. As Leicester have proved with Mahrez in the past, though, they will not be bullied into selling.
Worryingly for United, their chances of signing first choice defensive target Harry Maguire are rapidly fading. The England international has been offered a new contract by Leicester City and, having already sold Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City this summer, the Midlands club simply do not want to lose another of their key players before the start of the season.
That would appear to leave two alternatives, with Barcelona defender Yerry Mina the more likely arrival. The Colombian was superb for his country at the World Cup, scoring his side’s equaliser against England in the Round of 16.
At the age of 23, he would also be the preferred option of the United board because of his potential resale value and Barcelona are understood to be willing to let him leave.
United, though, have not completely discarded the idea of signing Toby Alderweireld from Tottenham Hotspur and the London club ae more receptive to the idea of letting him move to Manchester than they were earlier in the window.
Sky sources: Manchester United are preparing to make a bid for Leicester City's England defender Harry Maguire before Thursday's transfer deadline. #SSN https://t.co/1kCkxqnyxX
羅力亞
2018-08-05 23:45
Manchester United preparing to make bid for Harry Maguire before Thursday’s deadline. Leicester defender is José Mourinho’s No 1 target. United aware it will take world record bid for a defender for Leicester to be tempted to sell. Alderweireld & Mina the alternatives
羅力亞
2018-08-05 23:48
Manchester United preparing to make bid for Harry Maguire before Thursday’s deadline. Leicester defender is José Mourinho’s No 1 target. United aware it will take world record bid for a defender for Leicester to be tempted to sell. Alderweireld & Mina the alternatives