Manchester United reportedly launched a bid to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly before eventually signing Harry Maguire.
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Reds made an £82m offer for the 28-year-old, who was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer before Maguire was eventually signed.
However, the offer was rejected by the Serie A side, which mean’t United focused their attentions on Maguire.
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Koulibaly is one of the most elite central defenders across Europe, but we are happy with the influence Maguire has had on the team so far.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer desperately needed a central defender this summer and the Reds eventually payed £80m for the Englishman after weeks of negotiations.
Maguire made an excellent start to his United career with a man-of-the-match performance against Chelsea on Saturday, and Solskjaer will hope he can build a formidable partnership with Victor Lindelof at the back.
Ole on @HarryMaguire93: "He's just as composed off the pitch as he is on it. He's experienced, he's a big presence around the place, he's smiling and he's a personality that you like to have around." #MUFC pic.twitter.com/W43JO88tsj
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 16, 2019
