Leicester City’s Harry Maguire has effectively issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to Manchester United. The defender, who excelled as part of Gareth Southgate’s back three at the World Cup, has seen his stock rise and has been linked with a big money move to the Premier League runners up.
Days ago, Maguire did little to douse any flames by admitting that ‘everyone wants to play at the top’. The former Hull defender has got the taste of playing at the very highest level now, where the pressure is at its most heightened, which effectively saw this summer act as the ideal preparation for the expectations of playing for a club like United.
Now fresh rumours have surfaced that Maguire has gone as far as believing that he will be a Manchester United player by the time the two sides face off in the opening Premier League clash of the 2018-19 season. Sixteen days is all that is left until then and time is of the essence as far as brokering any deal is concerned.
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Leicester would appear to hold the big cards- in that they are under no pressure to sell their star defender, they will do their utmost to resist any offers after selling Riyad Mahrez to across the town and the aforementioned time constraints.
For a move to materialise, it would seem that Maguire would have to agitate and push for it, despite declaring that Leicester have been ‘unbelievable’ to him.
When the likes of Liverpool have chalked up close to £200 million in purchases in the off season, United’s standout signing of Fred at a comparably cool £52 million emphasises the need for United to bolster further, particularly in the continually troublesome centre-back position.
In short, United need to get their skates, spend big and give Mourinho the two signings he has publicly stated he needs so United do not go into the nine month slog still short of what they need.
Both Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Maguire have publicly hinted at moves elsewhere.
The ball is in your court, Mr Woodward.