Report: No Release Clause for Manchester United Target Harry Maguire
Leicester City have reportedly not inserted a release clause into Harry Maguire's new contract amid rumours Manchester United made a strong push to sign him in the summer.
According to Rob Tanner of the Leicester Mercury, the Foxes have avoided such clauses since they were powerless to stop N'Golo Kante's switch to Chelsea in 2016 following their Premier League triumph.
Per Tanner, manager Claude Puel plans to build his squad around the England international and was understandably excited when the defender signed a new deal:
"What I can say is it is a good feeling for all the club and for our fans because this signing shows the ambition of the club, the owners and for the fans.
"It is a very good feeling for the future. For the squad also. We kept our best player.
"It is a good thing to continue to improve and develop our play with a good focus and concentration for their club."
The report also acknowledged speculation is likely to persist but that the Foxes are confident of keeping him.
Maguire was among England's standouts during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, leading to plenty of speculation. United were believed to be in the market for a centre-back, and the 25-year-old's combination of Premier League experience and relative youth made him the perfect target.
Among the other options, Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld and Yerry Mina of Barcelona were frequently mentioned, with Sky Sports News among the outlets reporting of United's interest in the defenders. Mina made the switch to Everton instead, while Alderweireld stayed in north London.
Maguire's rise to prominence has been swift. He didn't become a first-team regular with Hull City until the 2016-17 campaign. Per BBC Sport, he has come a long way:
Many believed a switch to a top club would be the logical step this summer, and the new contract came as something of a surprise. While it doesn't rule out a transfer in the near future, the deal hands Leicester leverage in potential talks.
United may be best served looking elsewhere for a cheaper deal because it could well take a record amount to pry Maguire out of Leicester. According to ESPN FC, Alderweireld's contract contains a release clause of just £25 million, which clubs can trigger at the end of this season, so the Belgian remains a likely candidate to move to Old Trafford.
