TV NO-SHOW A CLUE TO HARRY UNITED SWITCH
IT TURNS out the biggest hint of harry Maguire’s £80million move to Manchester United came a week ago.
Sky and BT Sport arranged with Leicester last Monday to come down and shoot all the graphics that are shown when the teams are revealed before live games kick off.
Maguire’s kit had been laid out and both TV companies expected he would be there to do the visuals, but the official line was that Maguire was ill and could not make the commitment.
There would have been time for Sky to re-shoot Maguire had his world record move to Old Trafford not materialised, because Leicester are not scheduled to be shown on TV until August 18, when they travel to Chelsea.
As it is, the broadcasters will have to get busy this week with Maguire in his new strip, as United are central to the first Super Sunday, when Chelsea go to Old Trafford.
The Maguire move was notable for the size of the fee, but also the way in which Leicester carried out negotiations.
Sports Agenda understands that Leicester chief executive Susan Whelan was entrusted with dealing with the process for the club, and that the figure she commanded for the defender is seen as recognition of her sterling efforts. Whelan, who has a close relationship with United executive vice- chairman ed Woodward, does not usually look after transfers, but took the lead here — and she and the club will be satisfied with the outcome. The fact that a female chief executive played such a key role in a world record transfer for a defender also represents a substantial step forward for football.