Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has called Harry Maguire a “special player” they do not want to lose but said they have no choice after Manchester United met their valuation.
On Friday, United agreed an £80 million deal with Leicester to sign the 26-year-old England international and Maguire is expected to agree personal terms and complete a medical over the weekend.
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“The clubs have agreed [a fee] and there’s still some work for it to go through. There’s still a bit to go in terms of Harry’s medical and whatever personal things to sort out, but it is what it is,” Rodgers said after Leicester’s 2-1 win over Atalanta in a preseason friendly on Friday.
The deal would make Maguire the most expensive defender in the world, surpassing the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk last year.
“I think it’s an incredible piece of business,” he added “This is a guy [Maguire] that knows there has been interest all through the summer and he’s been super professional. He’s been with his teammates right the way through and been a really, really good guy.
“He’s a special player, he’s not a player that we would want to lose. But obviously any player will have a valuation and if ever that is met then of course there’s a discussion between clubs and whether the player wants to stay or go.”
Last year Maguire, who helped England reach the World Cup semifinals, signed a contract extension at Leicester until 2023. He played 31 league games last term, scoring three goals.