Manchester United are favourites to sign James Maddison in the January transfer window with the bookmakers.
The Manchester Evening News understands that United see Maddison as a long-term investment after a string of impressive performances in the Premier League.
And the club are increasingly confident that a deal can be completed for the 22-year-old in the next year.
The Leicester City attacking midfielder earned himself a senior England call-up earlier this month but did not play and was sent home early due to illness.
Maddison perfectly fits the bill of the kind of player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to sign for the club and he is a boyhood United fan.
The youngster would command a similar fee to that of fellow Englishman Harry Maguire when he moved to Old Trafford in the summer.
But it seems United are optimistic that a deal can be concluded with the strong relationship Maguire and Maddison have.
Maddison only joined Leicester in the summer of 2018 for £20 million from Norwich City, but Leicester look set to make a tidy profit if they sell one of their top assets.
According to bookmaker PaddyPower, United are 6/4 favourites to sign Maddison in January, with their closest rivals for his signature in the form of Tottenham Hotspur at 20/1.
Liverpool are priced at 25/1 with Man City out at 50/1 with a move to Old Trafford looking more likely if Maddison decides to leave the King Power Stadium.
