Jose must sell a star to snatch Maguire for £65m
JOSE MOURINHO will have to sell one of his centre backs before Manchester United can pursue any move for England World Cup star Harry Maguire.
United would have to pay up to £65million for the Leicester City defender whose value has rocketed following his performances in Russia.
But Mourinho has been told he must offload one of Marcos Rojo, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones or Victor Lindelof to make room for a new central defender.
Rojo may be the most viable option to sell after attracting strong interest from a Premier League rival.
The Argentina defender, who has yet to join United’s tour of the US after the World Cup, has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford since returning from a cruciate ligament injury in November.
Bailly also fell out of favour with Mourinho towards the end of last season, while Smalling, Jones and Lindelof could be sold.
Mourinho wants a combative, commanding centre back in the John Terry mould and doesn’t feel that any of his current squad have the attributes required.
United have drawn up a list of targets, headed by Maguire (right) that also includes Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Leonardo Bonucci of AC Milan. Spurs have not heard from United since they enquired about Alderweireld in May, while Bonucci could face Mourinho’s side in an International Champions Cup game in Los Angeles later this week. United expressed an interest in Maguire before the World Cup, but his stock has risen considerably after he emerged as one of England’s best players at the tournament with his fearless approach. The 25- year- old only cost Leicester £17m from relegated Hull City last summer, but he is now valued at almost four times that figure after an excellent first season at the King Power. Leicester are desperate to keep Maguire and are ready to offer him a new contract in the region of £80,000-a-week. But they would have to consider a huge bid from United before the transfer window closes on August 9. Mourinho has switched his attention to central defence after deciding that £ 19m signing Diogo Dalot’s ability to play on both flanks gives United cover in the full back positions. He has not ruled out signing another winger and Ivan Perisic’s performances for Croatia at the World Cup were a reminder of why United tried to sign him from Inter Milan a year ago. Meanwhile, Mourinho’s side were due to play San Jose Earthquakes in their second game on tour in Santa Clara last night, in preparation for their ICC matches which will be against Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid.