Manchester United are confident of beating Manchester City to the signing of Harry Maguire this summer, according to reports. It is suggested that the Old Trafford club are happy to pay more than City would for the 26-year-old Leicester City central defender, rumoured to be around £80 million, although a figure of £90 million has been reported.

United are said to be desperate to sign a top-class defender this summer that they are prepared to blow moneybags City out of the water for the Leicester defender. City has Maguire in mid to replace Vincent Kompany, who left the club this summer to become the player/manager of Anderlecht in his native Belgium.

City manager, Pep Guardiola has reportedly tracked Maguire for a few years and was confident that he has the ball playing skills to add to his City side. However, City only value the player at £50 million, so United could pip them to the player by offering more money. Liverpool paid £75 million to sign Virgin van Dijk 18 months ago so that will have set a price for players of the same calibre.

The Daily Mail has reported that United would be prepared to pay a Van Dijk-esque price for a central defender this summer after the club conceded 54 goals in the Premier League last season. Jose Mourinho was seeking a commanding central defender last summer but Ed Woodward thought it best to ignore someone who knows what football is, which resulted in him sacking the manager in December.

It is suggested that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows the areas which he needs to strengthen this summer, the defence being one of those, at least for a fullback and a central defender, although previous speculation has suggested that United were not interested in a central defender. United gave both Phil Jones and Chris Smalling new contracts in the last six months or so, which has not suggested the club has many ambitions if any at all.

United may have to battle to convince Maguire that a move to United would be better than a move to City. However, at United, he could be the defensive partner of Victor Lindelof, whereas at City, he might have to take on John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, and Nicolas Otamendi for a starting place in the team. It would be a lot less competition for a starting place at United.