Manchester United are refusing to be bullied into paying £90million for Harry Maguire – with just nine days to go until the transfer window shuts.
United have had a £60m bid rejected for Maguire, but are understood to be willing to go to £70m for the Leicester and England centre-back.
But United have made it clear there is no way they will entertain the prospect of meeting Leicester's £90m valuation of the 26-year-old, which could ultimately scupper his hopes of a move.
Maguire called in sick on Monday and missed training, with the player said to have become increasingly concerned at the prospect of being priced out of a move by Leicester.
Leicester are under pressure to reach a compromise figure with United over Maguire or risk reaching no agreement and being saddled with a disgruntled player who wants to move on.
United believe Leicester's valuation of Maguire is unrealistic and are hopeful the Foxes will lower it to allow a deal to be done before deadline day on August 8.
Manchester City are also keen on Maguire, having lost skipper Vincent Kompany this summer, but they, too, are unwilling to meet Leicester's asking price and as such their interest has cooled.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to land Maguire and Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff before deadline day, having already signed Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James this summer.
Speaking after the pre-season clash with Stoke, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said: "He’s been brilliant since the first day of pre-season.
“There’s a lot of speculation around Harry but he’s just got on with it. Like I’ve always said, we’re all pretty relaxed with it."
