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Man Utd signing Harry Maguire could trigger Youri Tielemans transfer - expert
HARRY MAGUIRE leaving Leicester could spark the Foxes into signing Youri Tielemans from Monaco, according to Belgium football expert Kristof Terreur.
Maguire is heavily linked with both Manchester United and Manchester City.
However, it is United who have made an offer for the 26-year-old, seeing a £70million offer turned down earlier this week.
Leicester are demanding more than the world record transfer fee for a defender of £75m, which Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk.
However, the Foxes are also keen on raising funds to bring in targets of their own.
Leicester at the moment are not willing to spend that money. It might change when Maguire is sold, for instance
Tielemans spent the second half of last season on loan at Leicester from Monaco and shone under Brendan Rodgers.
However, Terreur claims Monaco want up to £50m for the 22-year-old Belgium international, who has also been linked with United.
So the sale of Maguire would help in getting that deal across the line.
“I think Leicester’s still in pole position to sign [Tielemans],” Terreur said on the Transfer Talk podcast.
“The problem is they didn’t have an option to buy him, otherwise it was an easy deal.
“They still have Adrien Silva on loan over there too.
“They might use him as a bargaining [tool] to lower the price.
“Monaco know [Tielemans] has performed well in the Premier League so they want at least £40m, if not £50m.
“Leicester at the moment are not willing to spend that money.
“It might change when Maguire is sold, for instance.
“Tielemans’ people had expected that a deal would have been done already a few weeks ago.”