Manchester United have been linked with a move for Harry Maguire all summer.
The latest from the Independent is that a move for the Leicester City defender is close, after a breakthrough in negotiations which will see Maguire become the most expensive defender in world football.
According to the report, the Foxes have been holding out for £80m for the Englishman and the Reds have finally come up with acceptable terms.
NEXT:Man Utd tipped to sign Maguire ‘imminently’ before working on fourth summer signing
However, Talksport pundit Dean Saunders thinks United should be targeting Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld instead.
Alderweireld is available for a bargain price of £25m until Friday, when a release clause in his contract runs out.
And Saunders believes Alderweireld would be a better signing for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has so far only managed to bring in two new players this summer.
“Would you take Toby Alderweireld for £25million or Harry Maguire for £80million? You can’t get your money back on Alderweireld, he’s 30, but he’s probably a better player right now,” Saunders told Talksport.
“As a striker, I’d be thinking to myself, ‘If I can get Maguire out in the channels and get him isolated, he’s not mobile.”
The former Liverpool striker is right in saying the £80m demanded for Maguire is extortionate in what is a highly-inflated market. But there is no inclination that Alderweireld would be interested in a move to Old Trafford given the lack of stability and Champions League football at the club.
The Belgian defender would be a useful short-term solution to the current defensive woes and could form a solid partnership alongside Victor Lindelof, but Solskjaer is building for the future, and looks to be targeting younger players with more potential to grow this summer.
“It’s got ridiculous.” 😡
“£80million for Harry Maguire. It’s not his fault, but where’s it going to stop?”
“Maguire for £80m or Toby Alderweireld for £25m? Toby is a better player.”
Dean Saunders says #MUFC are paying too much with Maguire for £80million. pic.twitter.com/5e7JqShyI7
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 21, 2019
