Report: Leicester City Reject £70M Manchester United Bid for Harry Maguire

Leicester City have reportedly turned down a bid of £70 million from Manchester United for centre-back Harry Maguire. 

The Red Devils increased their bid for the Englishman on Tuesday but saw it rejected by Leicester, per Sky Sports News:

Per Sky Sports News, United and Manchester City were both initially prepared to pay £65 million for Maguire before the Red Devils moved to outmanoeuvre their local rivals. 

Foxes owner Aiyawatt Shrivaddhanaprabha will now only sanction a deal that will see Maguire eclipse Virgil van Dijk as the world's most expensive defender.

Liverpool signed Van Dijk from Southampton for £75 million back in January 2018, and he has helped transform the Reds defence into the best in the Premier League.

If United are to become title challengers once again they need to strengthen in defence after they conceded 54 goals last season in the English top flight, an unwanted Premier League-era record for the Red Devils.

Of their current centre-back options, arguably only Victor Lindelof is of a high enough quality, and Maguire would strengthen United's back line.

The 26-year-old has been a stalwart in the Leicester defence for the last two seasons since signing from Hull City in June 2017.

He has displayed confidence and control in the Premier League that will be attractive attributes to United as they look to build a solid defence.

However, the England international has arguably not been as consistent and commanding as Van Dijk was before Liverpool signed him, and has continued to be ever since.

Maguire will be worth shelling out over £70 million on if he can solve United's defensive problems and help them become Premier League contenders once again.

It is not guaranteed, though, that he will be able to do that.