It looks like Manchester United are set to miss out on Harry Maguire.
Leicester sent a clear message to Jose Mourinho by posting a photograph of Maguire in the Foxes’ new away kit on Wednesday morning, just 24 hours after Claude Puel revealed that it was unlikely that the in-demand defender would leave the King Power Stadium this summer.
“I am confident about the presence of Harry for this season. He is a very good player for us,” Puel told Sky Sports News.
“I was not surprised about his performance during this World Cup. We saw his progress during the second half of the season.
“He was great and played very well. It was not a surprise to see him perform well at this level in the international game.
“Of course for us he is a very good player – I wait for him with impatience because we need Harry and we need also Jamie [Vardy] because they are Leicester.”
⚪️🦊 @HarryMaguire93 pic.twitter.com/1XLTYSAhxy
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 1, 2018
The above image would lead you to believe that Leicester fully intend to rebuff any advances for their centre-half who impressed during England’s World Cup campaign.
It would also suggest that Maguire wears the smallest shinpads known to man.
Maguire, who discovered what it’s like to become a meme during his time in Russia, quickly responded to questions about his preferred type of shin protection by simply explaining that he just sported that kind of shinpad for the photoshoot.
Didn’t expect the photographer to 2 foot tackle me tbh 🤷🏽♂️😂 https://t.co/zxCvVr9QpH
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) August 1, 2018
It seems like the 25-year-old can’t do anything nowadays without the internet latching on to it with a vice-like grip.
😂 Harry Maguire is the lad who's forgotten his shin-pads so has had to pick them up from the lost and found box…
(📸 @LCFC)#LCFC pic.twitter.com/ZkLThNQgRH
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) August 1, 2018
Leicester have just released their new away kit for next season. But we want to know where on earth the rest of Harry Maguire’s shinpad is 🧐 pic.twitter.com/0uEswOzUX1
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) August 1, 2018
Leicester’s away kit is a thing of beauty! 🔥🔥🔥
Harry Maguire’s shinpads however… 😂 pic.twitter.com/HhcMTXXIEF
— Andy’s Football Tips (@AndyRobsonTips) August 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/SuperPosh7/status/1024589570703339521
Who got him the child’s small shin pads?
— Stuart Chalmers (@sjchalmers82) August 1, 2018
Couldn’t we have got him some men’s shin pads instead of kids ones
— Adz (@AdamChandler8) August 1, 2018
Luckily for harry the kids section hadn’t sold out of shinnies!! ???
— Chris (@CMHewett) August 1, 2018
Why is he wearing shin pads during the photo shoot?
— Jeff Romp (@jeffrompwpfc) August 1, 2018
Slab shins????
— Adrian Brocklebank (@ckrouter) August 1, 2018
If those are full-size shinpads, Maguire’s shins must be wider than his forehead
— Colm Hayes (@ColmVHayes) August 1, 2018