Sources: Man Utd agree record Â£80m Maguire fee

Stewart Robson and Steve Nicol assess what Harry Maguire would bring to Manchester United while Gab Marcotti isn’t convinced the deal will get done.

ESPN FC’s Ian Darke and Stewart Robson share their thoughts on the likelihood Harry Maguire joins Manchester United this summer.

ESPN FC’s Ian Darke explains why Harry Maguire would be good business for Manchester United, even at Leicester’s £80 million valuation.

ESPN FC’s Julien Laurens and Steve Nicol examine how Harry Maguire would impact Man United’s defence if they sign the Leicester star.

Manchester United are set to sign Harry Maguire after reaching a breakthrough with Leicester on Friday morning, sources told ESPN FC.

According to the sources, United have agreed to a world-record fee for a defender — around £80 million plus add-ons — to pry Maguire away from the King Power Stadium.

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The 26-year-old is set to undergo a medical on Saturday before signing a five-year contract in the next few days. He will be eligible to make his United debut against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Aug. 11.

Leicester were holding out for a bid of £95 million for Maguire before agreeing to a compromise. The record fee for a defender eclipses the £75 million Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in 2018.

It brings to an end more than two months of negotiations and secures Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s top defensive target. Maguire had feared Leicester were pricing him out of a dream move to Old Trafford, but after making it clear to the club and manager Brendan Rodgers that he wanted to leave, United have been able to seal a deal.

Manchester City were also interested but pulled out after being told Leicester’s demands. Maguire was subject to interest from United last summer but agreed to stay at Leicester and signed a new long-term contract in September.

He played 76 games in two seasons at Leicester after arriving for £17 million from Hull City in 2017.

The big-money move for Maguire is the latest in United’s planned £200 million spend this summer, which ESPN FC reported in May.

Meanwhile, United are still waiting to hear whether Paulo Dybala is open to a move as part of a deal that would see striker Romelu Lukaku join Juventus.

Talks between the two clubs in London have progressed well, but sources have told ESPN FC that Dybala has reservations about moving to Manchester and swapping Champions League football for at least one season in the Europa League.

The Argentina forward has returned to Turin to make a decision about his future.