Maddison is ‘keen to join United’ as Reds prepare summer raid
LEICESTER City playmaker James Maddison wants to join United as the club prepares to continue its squad rebuild.
The 23-year-old has been earmarked by the Reds as their prime playmaker target for the summer and sources close to the player have told M.E.N. Sport he ‘would have been at United years ago’ if it was up to him.
Maddison has been considering a new contract with Leicester and sources say there are still ‘many factors at play’ over a possible summer move. Maddison is contracted to Leicester until 2023.
United finalised their shortlist of summer targets last month, with Maddison and Aston
Villa playmaker Jack Grealish under consideration to occupy the playmaker role.
The signing of Bruno Fernandes has not impacted United’s interest in the duo.
The Reds hierarchy have budgeted for between three and five signings across the two transfer windows this year and are expected to make a minimum of three additions in the summer.
Despite speculation last month, United never considered a mid-season move for Maddison. He joined Leicester from Norwich City for £24m in 2018 and has already scored nine times this season. The Foxes are 15 points clear of United and could easily command a larger fee for Maddison than the £80m they obtained for Harry Maguire in August.
Leicester received £60m from City for Riyad Mahrez in 2018, Danny Drinkwater joined Chelsea for £35m in 2017 and N’Golo Kante moved to Stamford Bridge for £30m in 2016.
Maddison attained his first
England cap in November and Old Trafford sources believe Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard helped sway Maguire amid competition from City last summer. England coach Gareth Southgate is due to name his squad for the March friendlies with Italy and Denmark in just over a month. United captain Maguire’s inclusion is a certainty - provided he is fit - and he could be surrounded by a plethora of potential future team-mates.
The Reds have tried to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho since he was a 17-year-old at City and Grealish is pushing for his first senior call-up.
Maddison fits the criteria of United’s preference for young British signings, while high-ranking figures at the Reds have spoken about the need for humble and respectful characters off the pitch who become arrogant when they pull on the club shirt.
Samuel Luckhurst