Manchester United are growing increasingly more confident that they can complete the signing of Leicester's Harry Maguire this summer, despite facing stiff competition from bitter rivals Manchester City .
Leicester have slapped a huge £80m price tag on Maguire, who had a good season for the Foxes following his stellar World Cup 2018 campaign for England.
City, however, are unwilling to spend more than £50m on the player, which could leave the door open for United to swoop and make a bid nearing the £80m asking price.
Maguire is thought to favour a move to the champions, and sees more chance of silverware and developing his game under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.
However, he is also likely to be tempted to Old Trafford as he sees his future away from the King Power Stadium, and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly keen to talk to the 26-year-old to try to convince him that United is the right club to join.
Maguire made 31 appearances in the Premier League for the Foxes this season, scoring three goals in the process, and helped Leicester to a ninth place finish.
With Eric Bailly injury prone and Chris Smalling and Phil Jones inconsistent, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prioritising strengthening his back-line this summer, with the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also linked with a move.
He is also specifically targeting young British talent, with Swansea's Daniel James having already signed for around £17m, and Maguire fits the bill in every aspect.
Guardiola, however, is also on the lookout for a new centre-back to replace the outgoing legend Vincent Kompany, who leaves following 11 hugely successful seasons at City.
Guardiola feels he can improve Maguire in a similar way that he has with John Stones, and that the two could become a formidable partnership both for club and country.
