According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have approached Leicester City about the availability of their star centre-back Harry Maguire. However, the report also claims that the Foxes are unwilling to sell Maguire, but United value Maguire at around £65million.
Maguire has impressed for club and country
Harry Maguire’s reputation has skyrocketed in the last year or so. He only moved to the Midlands club from Hull City last summer for a fee of around £17million. The defender had impressed with his displays for the Tigers despite the Yorkshire clubs relegation to the Championship.
Last season he only added to his growing reputation as a centre-back with the ability to out of defence and orchestrate attacks. He also represented an attacking threat on set pieces, as he is a man-mountain of a man.
Maguire’s displays in the heart of the Foxes backline were that impressive that he won Leicester’s Player of the Year award.
His encouraging displays for Leicester also led to an international call-up for England. Despite hardly featuring for the Three Lions prior to the World Cup, the 25-year-old became an integral part of Gareth Southgate’s starting eleven in Russia.
The centre-back was arguably England’s best player as the Three Lions reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for only the third time. His appearances certainly raised his profile and his value to Leicester too.
Leicester does want to sell Maguire and have stated he will not leave during this window. The Foxes have £60million burning a hole in their pocket from the sale of Riyad Mahrez is United’s arch-rivals Manchester City. They have no need to sell their star defender.
Manchester United looking to sign a centre-back this summer
It seems that signing a centre-back is one of Manchester boss Jose Mourinho’s top priorities. The Red Devils already have international centre-backs Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof available to boss Mourinho.
It seems that the former Chelsea boss is not convinced by any of his centre-back options. Rojo and Lindelof have both been linked with the exit, while reportedly Bailly requested talks with Mourinho about his future at Old Trafford earlier in the summer.
The Portuguese’s lack of confidence has led the Red Devils to be linked with a number of centre-backs this summer, including Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld, who seemed to be Mourinho primary transfer target.
However, it now seems that United have switched targets to England international Maguire, who reportedly fancies the idea of playing for the Red Devils.
Mourinho looking to sign a new centre-back is understandable, as goalkeeper David De Gea was left horribly exposed last season at times. The Spaniard produced some outstanding displays, despite facing more shots than any of his rivals from last season’s top five.
United not strong enough to win the Premier League title
Jose Mourinho seems like a boss with a bee in his bonnet of late. The Red Devils have not made many summer signings, which is probably part of the reason for the former Chelsea bosses current demeanour
Mourinho was never one to hide his emotions, and he will know that his team needs strengthening, including in the centre of defence. Even signing Harry Maguire is unlikely to be enough to turn United into champions.
For me, the men from Manchester would be far closer to their rivals with Maguire in their team than not. However, with just a few weeks of the transfer window left, and Leicester’s unwillingness to sell the player, a deal may be hard to complete.
Maguire is currently odds of 8/11 to join Manchester United this summer, while he is 6/5 to remain at Leicester. It seems the bookmakers believe Maguire could be on the move this summer.
He would be a good signing for the Red Devils, even if he does cost a fee of around £65million. Whether United can get the deal over the line only time will tell. My gut feeling is that Leicester will dig their heels, and Maguire will stay in the Midlands, for now anyway.
Will Manchester United sign Harry Maguire this summer?
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