United FINALLY agree £85m deal with Leicester for Harry Maguire as he becomes the most-expensive defender of all-time – eclipsing Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk fee – after weeks of talks

Manchester United have agreed a fee of £85million with Leicester City to make Harry Maguire the world’s most expensive defender.

The figure, which includes add-ons, was finally reached following weeks of negotiations between the two clubs. It eclipses the £75m that Liverpool paid Southampton to sign Virgil van Dijk in January 2018.

Maguire had already pulled out of Leicester’s final pre-season friendly against Atalanta on Friday because he is not in the right frame of mind to play, having called in sick on Monday.

Manchester United have agreed to pay Leicester £85million for defender Harry Maguire

The 26-year-old had made it clear to his manager Brendan Rodgers and teammates that he wants to go this summer after Leicester rebuffed United’s interest 12 months ago.

He did not feature in an official club video released on Thursday to announce the club’s squad numbers for the new season.

It only fuelled speculation that Leicester were preparing to sell Maguire as they line up a replacement with James Tarkowski of Burnley and Watford’s Christian Kabasele possible options.

United wanted a deal done by Monday or else they will not have enough time to sign an alternative target before next week’s transfer deadline on August 8.