Manchester United are targeting Leicester City’s Harry Maguire this summer after the English centre back starred for Gareth Southgate’s team in this summer’s World Cup, according to a report in The Guardian. Jose Mourinho has been courting an addition to the centre of his defence almost all of this summer, with United linked with several options such as Toby Alderweireld and AC Milan’s Leonardo Bonucci since last season’s conclusion, and after the former Hull City defender impressed during England’s run to the semi-finals of the tournament in Russia, the United boss has set his sights on attempting to prise the player from the Foxes’ grip.
Maguire only moved to the former Premier League champions in the summer of last year, sealing a £12m transfer from Hull City. Of course, his value will have certainly skyrocketed in the twelve months since, especially having offered several solid displays for the national side during their World Cup campaign.
The report doesn’t state if any of United’s 5 current senior centre backs will be sold to make way for Maguire, and whilst rumours of a deal for Alderweireld have been rumbling on for several weeks, there has been little-to-no speculation linking the likes of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones or Marcos Rojo with a move away from Old Trafford. Given that Mourinho has a plethora of options at his disposal in that area of the pitch, it seems clear that one must be shipped out before another large purchase is made, especially with Magure’s potential fee likely to be around the £50m mark.
There’s also a suggestion that the purchase of FC Porto’s Diogo Dalot provides the United manager enough cover for both left and right back slots that no further purchases in that area of the pitch are required. Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, who was injured in Sunday night’s game with San Jose Earthquake are expected to be Mourinho’s first choice pairing in the roles, with Dalot and Luke Shaw providing cover.
