Leicester boss Puel makes Harry Maguire joke to Man Utd

Leicester manager Claude Puel has dismissed suggestions linking Manchester United with a summer swoop for Harry Maguire.

The Foxes defender has seen his stock rise this summer on the back of an excellent World Cup campaign with England – leading to Jose Mourinho’s side to be linked with a £65million swoop.

However, the Foxes are seemingly intent on keeping their prized asset and amid talk they would value him at nearer £80million, the club have reportedly opened talks over doubling his contract at the King Power Stadium.

Puel, meanwhile, has laughed off the suggestions that Maguire might have been bound for Old Trafford and has suggested that the rumours could have been designed to simply disrupt his team before they meet on Friday August 10 in the Premier League opener.

“I think perhaps United wanted to make trouble before our game,” he told Sky Sports.

“It’s not the thing to try to make trouble but I think he’s a better player for us.

“It’s our intent to keep him and just a few days before the start of the season it would not be a good thing for the squad, for confidence and for Leicester Football Club.”

Puel was also at pains to stress the need for Leicester to retain their best players – especially after the £60million sale of Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City this summer.

“If we keep our best players we can do something interesting,” he said. “We lost Riyad and we know the importance of this player but we cannot lose another important player for this team.”

 

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