Leicester City have reportedly slapped a world-record £90 million price tag on star defender Harry Maguire, who is being chased by Manchester United.
According to an exclusive report from Daily Star, Manchester United have been told to cough up £90 million by Leicester City, if they are to sign star centre-half Harry Maguire in the summer transfer window.
Maguire, in the last couple of seasons, has gone on to establish himself as one of the most coveted defenders in the Premier League. Having impressed with Hull City, the centre-back joined Leicester City in the summer of 2017, where he had a solid debut campaign, post which he starred for England in the last summer’s FIFA World Cup.
In the 2018-19 campaign, Maguire has turned out on 27 occasions for the Foxes, chipping in with three goals. The 26-year-old missed five Premier League outings with a knee injury in November last year, but has largely been one of Leicester’s most consistent performers.
Manchester United had been strongly linked with a move for Maguire last summer. The reports had intensified heavily post his exploits in the World Cup in Russia, with Daily Star claiming that the Red Devils had come up with an offer of £75 million in order to secure his signing.
However, Leicester managed to stave off interest from Manchester United and hold on to Maguire, while also getting him to sign a new and improved contract in September last year, extending his stay at the King Power Stadium till the summer of 2023.
Manchester United, with their defence under-performing this season, have continued to keep an eye out on the England international and could be set to launch another move in the upcoming summer transfer window. However, the report claims that they have been told to shell out as much as £90 million for the transfer by Leicester City.
Should Manchester United agree to meet the Foxes’ demands, they will break the world record for the highest transfer fee for a defender, which currently stands at £75 million that Liverpool paid Southampton to sign Virgil van Dijk in January last year.
Along with Maguire, Manchester United have also been linked with a move for Barcelona mainstay Samuel Umtiti, while the report from Daily Star also claims that Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly is also high on the 20-time English champions’ summer shortlist.
Maguire, no doubt, will be a solid addition to the Manchester United backline that has flattered to deceive in the ongoing campaign. However, the price tag does seem a bit excessive and it remains to be seen if the Red Devils decide to meet Leicester City’s demand or look elsewhere to strengthen their defence for the next season.
