English International Harry Maguire is set to join Premier League champions Manchester city for a reported £90 million. The centre-half is set to trump the fee paid by Liverpool for Virgil van Dijk and become the world's most expensive defender.
Maguire signed an enhanced five year deal last September with the Foxes, but the club are now looking set to cash in on the defender.
The potential for an escalating bidding war between the two Manchester clubs was too good an opportunity for Leicester to turn down. Guardiola struck after Manchester United couldn't reach agreement over a transfer fee with Leicester. United were reported to be initially interested in paying £40 million for the defender, and have been tracking the player since last summer. But City are willing to pay the £80 million to secure Maguire's services.
Maguire had an excellent season at the heart of Leicester's defence. The Foxes conceded the fewest goals at home of any team outside the top five in last season's Premier League. Guardiola sees Maguire as an ideal replacement for Vincent Kompany. The Belgian has left to become player-manager of Anderlecht.
Challenge
The road to the next stage of the player's carer has had several turns over the last few months. Maguire liked a post on social media linking him to the Red Devils, sending United fans in to a frenzy. However, such fervour has since cooled. The player is keen to challenge himself in the Champions League, an opportunity not on offer by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.
Leicester only signed Maguire in the summer of 2017 for £17.5 million from Hull. The Foxes were not keen to part with his services but the offer from City is apparently too lucrative to decline for both club and player.
The signing of Maguire for City is set to become the first part of a summer spending spree.The first part of that spree is signing Rodhri from Atletico, after City agreed to meet the fee for his release clause.
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