Manchester United has reached an agreement with Leicester City to sign centre back Harry Maguire with a transfer fee of 80 million pounds ($96.96 million) agreed, British media reports said on Friday.
Should the deal go through, Maguire will become the most expensive defender in the world, surpassing the 75 million pounds Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk last year.
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Maguire's fee out-strips Dutch international Matthijs de Ligt who in July moved to Juventus from Ajax for a combined fee of 75 million euros ($84.2 million) plus 10.5 million euros of add-ons.
De Ligt's compatriot Virgil van Dijk cost Liverpool £75 million when he moved from Southampton in January 2018.
Maguire would also become the Old Trafford club's second most expensive recruit after midfielder Paul Pogba who was signed for a then world-record 89 million pounds from Juventus in 2016.
The 26-year-old England international, who signed a contract extension until 2023 with Leicester last year, played 31 times in the league last season and also scored three goals.
Leicester and Manchester United agree Maguire fee, Rodgers confirms
Speaking after Leicester's 2-1 friendly win over Atalanta, Rodgers confirmed an agreement has been reached between the clubs following negotiations.
Rodgers told Sky Sports: "Until it goes through - there's obviously been communications between the clubs - but there's still a bit to go in terms of medical and personal terms."
"It is what it is. He's a special player, not one we want to leave, but we'll see over the course of the weekend if there's anything more. At this point the clubs have agreed [a fee]."
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers had said that the 2016 league champion had rejected two bids last month for its defender because it did not meet the valuation of the club.
“The club hasn't changed its stance in terms of the valuation for the player,” Rodgers told BBC on Thursday. “I'm obviously relaxed with it. It is what it is. The player has been first class with his attitude in his training.”
Maguire joined Leicester from Hull City two years ago for a deal said to be worth £17m, meaning the club stand to make a profit of around £63m on the centre-back.
(With inputs from Opta).
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