Manchester United have not exactly set the transfer world alight this summer.
Having finished second in the league, albeit 16 points behind champions Manchester City, Jose Mourinho was expected to get the go-ahead for another spree. The likes of Gareth Bale, Robert Lewandowski, Rahael Varane, Danny Rose, Harry Maguire, Samuel Umtiti, Alex Sandro and Toby Alderweireld were all linked with the club.
Instead, United have only brought in veteran goalkeeper Lee Grant, promising fullback Diogo Dalot and Brazilian midfielder Fred. Mourinho has not been drawn on further transfer deals and has already stated that his back four is decided for his side’s Premier League opener against Leicester City, on August 10:
- Antonio Valencia
- Luke Shaw
- Eric Bailly
- Chris Smalling
Bailly and Smalling appear to be in the plans of the United boss so that could be bad news for Marcos Rojo.
That is because The Daily Mail report that United will only move for Leicester and England defender Harry Maguire if they can manage to find a buyer for one of that defensive trio.
Simon Jones claims United are willing to pay £65m for Maguire and would even surpass the Foxes’ improved salary offer of £75,000 per week (Maguire was on £40k a week last season).
Leicester signed Maguire from Hull City for £17m. His league and international form, most recently at the World Cup in Russia, has allied to see his value sky-rocket. Claude Puel is already planning for life after Maguire, the report states, and has looked at Gary Cahill (Chelsea) and Yerry Mina (Barcelona).
Of the three United defenders under threat, Rojo would appear to have the weakest case. He has played 107 games in four seasons at United but has been injury prone and only made 12 outings for the club last season.
