James Maddison will join Manchester United with the belief that he can fire them back into the Champions League, according to former Liverpool player Danny Murphy.
United hold a strong interest in Maddison, MEN Sport understands, though the Leicester City playmaker is currently in talks over a potential new contract at the King Power Stadium.
Maddison has notched five goals and three assists already in the Premier League this season, guiding the Foxes to second spot.
But Murphy believes that, regardless of the two teams' standings in the league, United will be a hugely attractive proposition for the 23-year-old.
"You cannot tell me there's a young English footballer playing at Leicester, no matter how well they are doing, who would turn down United when they come," he told Sky Sports. "It's not going to happen.
"If come in for James Maddison and pay enough, he's gone.
"United are a big enough club — and I'm not a United fan, we know this — but United still has the draw. To play at Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams, every week for James Maddison instead of Leicester, irrelevant of league position... he's gone."
Murphy then added that Maddison could fire United back into the top four, such is his ability and his confidence.
United have lacked a killer instinct in games against the so-called lesser lights in the league this season and the Leicester No.10 is viewed as an antidote to that.
Murphy added: "If Maddison is confident enough of his own ability, he'll think he'll get United in the Champions League next year.
"Maddison has created more chances since the start of last season than any other player."
