Manchester United’s failure to sign a new centre back has been well documented this summer, with pursuits of Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld, Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Barcelona’s Yerry Mina all ending without success. The Belgian defender was said to have been the subject of talks between the two clubs but a serious push was never made for his services, whilst the agent fees required to seal Mina’s signature from the Catalan club were deemed to be prohibitive. The Colombian international sealed a transfer to Everton as the transfer window neared its deadline, and Alderweireld is likely to leave the North London club on a free transfer next summer should Spurs decide against extending his deal.
Maguire, meanwhile, is set to sign a new deal at Leicester, say the Telegraph. The England defender, who was reportedly in discussions over a contract extension and pay-rise before this summer’s World Cup and United’s interest, is said to be close to putting pen-to-paper on a deal work £75,000 a week. It’s said to representative of his increased standing in the game, and recognition for his improving worth to the former Premier League champions.
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Should United decide to attempt to sign Maguire again, his increased wages are unlikely to cause too much of an issue. The club has often been able to use attractive wages as a means to attract new players to the club, and the former Hull defender’s proposed wage packet wouldn’t be a problem. Of course, the more likely outcome appears to be that United will pursue other targets, with Maguire seemingly deemed to a useful option by the club’s hierarchy, but not enough of an upgrade on Jose Mourinho’s current options to warrant a huge bid. Quite how the Portuguese views the situation is another story altogether, with Mourinho said to be furious with the club’s inability to provide him with a new central defender.
