Harry Maguire is set to return to Leicester training on Monday with Manchester United preparing to make a bid for the defender.
The 25-year-old centre-half is expected back after having extra time off to recover from playing for England in the 2018 World Cup.
His performances in Russia – and for Leicester in the Premier League after signing from Hull in a £17m last summer – mean he has attracted interest from Jose Mourinho, who is believed to have made Maguire his top target ahead of the new season.
Manchester United are preparing to make a bid for Maguire before the transfer window closes on Thursday, according to sources.United are reportedly aware they will be required to pay a new world-record fee for a defender to sign him away from the King Power Stadium.The current record is the £75m Liverpool paid to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton earlier this year.
Last week, Leicester manager Claude Puel made it clear he hopes to keep Maguire, saying: “I think Harry is a very good player for us. It’s important to keep him and just a few days before the season it would be not a good thing for the squad, for the confidence for Leicester.
“We lost Riyad Mahrez. We know the importance of this player. We cannot lose also a very good player for the team.”
If United are unable to complete a deal for Maguire, it is understood their list of targets including Toby Alderweireld and Yerry Mina.
Manchester United’s first game of the Premier League season is against Leicester on Friday.The Leicester and England defender is believed to be Jose Mourinho’s top target as he looks to put the finishing touches to his side ahead of the new season.
United are understood to be aware that they will have to pay a new world-record fee for a defender if they want to take the 25-year-old from the King Power Stadium, however.
The current record is the £75m Liverpool paid to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton earlier this year.
If United were unable to complete a deal for Maguire,and turned to Mourinho’s list of alternatives at centre-half is believed to include Toby Alderweireld and Yerry Mina.
Leicester have completed the signing of winger Rachid Ghezzal from AS Monaco for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old Algeria international has signed a four-year contract – and will link up once again with Leicester boss Claude Puel, who was in charge at Lyon when Ghezzal was coming up through the ranks.
Ghezzal has 13 international caps and becomes the fifth new arrival at the King Power Stadium this summer, following Jonny Evans, James Maddison, Ricardo Pereira and Danny Ward.
Leicester boss Claude Puel said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Rachid to Leicester City Football Club.
“He’s an exciting addition to our group, who will bring creativity and competition ahead of an important season for us.
“I know his qualities from my time at Lyon, where he was in the academy, and I look forward to seeing him test himself in the Premier League.”
During his time at Lyon, Ghezzal scored 14 goals and provided 20 assists in his 110 appearances.
His form attracted the interest of then-French champions Monaco and he was transferred in August 2017.
He told LCFC TV: “I’m very excited and very happy to be here.
“I know the coach from Lyon and this is where I want to be. It’s a good club and an ambitious one too.”
Ghezzal will link up with his new team-mates this week ahead of Leicester’s opening game of the new Premier League season at Manchester United on Friday night.