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Harry Maguire to complete record Man Utd transfer today - but first clue dropped last week
HARRY MAGUIRE will become the world’s most expensive defender when he completes his move to Manchester United today.
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One of the summer’s longest-running transfer sagas is finally over after United agreed to meet Leicester’s lofty demands by paying £80million for a player they desperately need.
And while it will come as huge relief to United fans when his capture is confirmed, it may actually have been all-but done more than a week ago.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Maguire was supposed to have traveled with his Foxes team-mates to the Sky and BT Sport studios to shoot the graphics that are shown before live matches.
It is claimed he missed the shoot due to illness and that he will now have to return with United before their opening game of the Premier League season against Chelsea on Sunday.
Further details on the negotiations are also revealed in the Mail’s report.
Chief executive Susan Whelan is credited for standing firm through the talks with United and negotiating a massive transfer fee that surpasses the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola also confirmed his side were involved in the discussions and that they were keen to sign him before being priced out.
After their win penalty shootout win over Liverpool in Sunday’s Community Shield, he said: "He's an excellent, top-class player. We were interested but could not afford it.
"United could afford it. He had an incredible World Cup. He's strong in the air, good with the ball and builds it up, he's so fast. He's young. Congratulations to United."
As it is, Maguire, 26, had a medical at United’s Carrington training ground on Sunday and was pictured with a huge smile of his face after being put through his paces.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping to announce his arrival imminently and is expected to do so at some point today.
"Hopefully the last little details will be in place and hopefully we can announce something soon," he said after a penalty shootout win over AC Milan on Saturday.
"Let's get the last details over the line but yeah, he's played a few games over the summer so we'll have to assess him if and when."
Meanwhile, Guardiola is backing Maguire to turn their cross-town rivals back into title challengers.
"There will be many contenders. Manchester United - with Maguire and the other players they brought will be very good," he said.
"And Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham too. There are many contenders. But I think Liverpool is champions of Europe and showed they are a top-class team."