Man Utd dilemma as Leicester reject Harry Maguire swap proposal

Harry Maguire TEAMtalk

Manchester United have been left as sole suitors for Harry Maguire – but the club have plenty to ponder after Leicester stuck a world-record price on the defender’s head.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned his attentions to adding an elite-level centre-half to his squad this summer, having already bolstered his squad with the signings of Daniel James (signed from Swansea in a £15million deal) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (a £45m recruit from Crystal Palace).

United failed in a £70m approach for Maguire earlier this week – and it now appears they are the sole suitors for the defender after The Sun on Sunday confirmed reports from Friday that Manchester City have now withdrawn their interest.

The paper claims City have pulled out of the race after Leicester demanded a straight £85m cash deal for the England star, leaving United as sole suitors for the stylish 26-year-old.

It’s also reported United have plenty to ponder over Maguire after Leicester rejected a second and improved offer from United, thought to have been £70m cash, plus Argentinian defender Marcos Rojo.

It’s claimed Leicester have no interest in signing United’s cast-offs, with our exclusive earlier in the summer suggesting the club are in the market to sign Brighton’s Lewis Dunk should United meet their asking price for Maguire.

That means United have been left with a simple decision to make on Maguire: meet Leicester’s £85m asking price – or walk away from the deal.

As such, the Daily Mirror reports that Solskjaer has sought some additional guidance from the England contingent within his United squad before making their next move.

According to the paper, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Phil Jones have all ben asked for their opinion on the 26-year-old Foxes star.

And the paper reports that all five told Solskjaer that United would be landing one of the best defenders in the country, who is often very quiet and prefers to do his talking on the pitch. Furthermore, it’s claimed they all fully endorsed United’s attempts to lure him to the club this summer, but saying his character and attitude would be exactly what Solskjaer is looking for.

Solskjaer has been clear in his transfer approach this summer making plain his intentions to only sign players with the right ‘work ethic’ and will-to-win at United this summer.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Solskjaer said: “Me and Mick (Phelan) came in and of course we wanted to bring a confidence into the players that we trust them because we do,” he said.

“They are here because they are special. Manchester United never sign players if they don’t have any uniqueness or X-factor about them. We should never forget what badge they are wearing because they are special.

“We’ve tried to educate our players and our kids to be proper people. In my view, the best players have always been the best people.

“You have to have that value system and a certain kind of attitude about you to make a Man United player.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer TEAMtalk

“You have got to have the qualities and our fans want to see exciting players. Of course we want to get up from our seats.

“We want to see defenders who defend like they’re doing it for their lives – that’s the most important thing.

“When we start games [against big clubs], our fans clap a striker making a tackle. It’s always been in our culture.

“You have to have that work ethic and we’re scouting the market, trying to find the right ones.”

Should United meet Leicester’s valuation, it will break the world-record transfer fee for a defender; that being the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018.

 

Get the latest personalised Red Devils products on our new TEAMtalk Man Utd shop!