This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
Manchester United's bid for Harry Maguire has sparked a transfer frenzy, with Manchester City now ready to match the Sh9 billion offer for the Leicester City defender.
According to sources, Leicester City had initially indicated they would be happy to sell Maguire for Sh8.4 billion, but Manchester United's increased offer has changed the dynamics of the transfer.
Leicester City's owner, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, would need to personally sign off any deal for Maguire, who still has four years left on his contract and is seen as a key asset in their squad.
Maguire was not part of the group that returned to begin Leicester's pre-season training schedule on Monday at their Belvoir Drive training complex, and it remains to be seen if he will join his team-mates on Sunday when they head to Évian-les-Bains for six days of training in the French Alps.
Manchester City's decision to match Manchester United's bid may be influenced by the departure of Vincent Kompany, which could see Nicolas Otamendi reconsider his decision to leave the Etihad for Atletico Madrid.
Leicester City's position has always been that they have no desire or need to sell Maguire, and would only consider a bid in excess of the Sh9.7 billion world-record fee paid by Liverpool for Virgil van Dijk.
