Manchester United have reportedly agreed an £80 million deal with Leicester City to sign Harry Maguire, making him the most expensive defender in world football.
According to an exclusive report from The Sun, Manchester United have finally got their priority central defensive target. The Red Devils have reportedly agreed a deal with Leicester City, which is worth £80 million and will make Harry Maguire the most expensive defender in world football.
While the overall fees is set to eclipse the £75 million Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk, it is worth noting that Manchester United will be paying only £60 million upfront, with the rest based on add-ons and bonuses being hit. The update comes soon after reports of Harry Maguire wanting a move and unhappy with the club at the prospect of being priced out of a transfer to either of the two Manchester clubs.
Manchester United’s need for a centre-back has been well documented since 2018. Jose Mourinho demanded a centre-back and United’s inability to sign one saw the Red Devils post their worst defensive numbers in the Premier League era, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also looking to add one quality centre-back to their squad to partner Victor Lindelof, who seems to be Ole’s preferred option among the ones at the club.
Harry Maguire has been linked with a move to Manchester United since the summer of 2018. The current transfer window saw Manchester United switch targets several times, starting with Kalidou Koulibaly, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire. While the Napoli star was slapped with an exorbitant price tag, de Ligt seems to be edging towards a move to Juventus, leaving United with Maguire to prioritise.
In recent times, Ruben Dias did also emerge as an option. But, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reported preference of building a British core along with Harry Maguire’s experience in the Premier League could be reasons United decided to go all in for the Leicester City defender.
The Red Devils were a bit put off by Leicester City’s increasing demands for Harry Maguire. But, the English international’s admission of wanting a move and reports of being miffed at being priced out of a move seems to have done the trick for Manchester United.
The report states that Maguire is set to fly to Manchester for a medical on Monday, which means the Leicester City defender could be one of the stars to join Manchester United’s pre-season tour. Regardless of the fee, Maguire’s addition will be welcome by the fans as it plugs the publicly aware hole in the central defence.
