Manchester United are ready to wait till the summer to sign highly-rated midfielder James Maddison from Leicester City, FutballNews understands.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to reinforce his midfield options by offering Jesse Lingard plus £45 million to sign the Leicester superb midfielder. This report has made Lingard employ the services of super-agent Mino Raiola.
Maddison joined the Foxes for around £20m from Norwich in 2018 and still has three-and-a-half years remaining on his current £50,000-a-week contract. But he could be offered more if he joins Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side next summer. The 23-year-old has also been in good form this season and has been at the heart of Brendan Rodgers’ side as they occupy the second spot on the league table and win a Champions League qualification.
The Leicester midfielder has bagged six goals and three assists in 20 Premier League appearances and his fine performances have unsurprisingly seen him linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium and United are hopeful that the midfielder can be lured to Old Trafford in the summer.
The midfielder is not close to signing a new long-term deal at the King Power Stadium with the Red Devils are ready to raid the club again after paying a similar £80m deal for Harry Maguire. Also, Man United chiefs are hoping that the defender can help persuade his former teammate to make the switch to Old Trafford in January.
But the Manchester Evening News reports that United have accepted that it will be impossible to sign Maddison in the January transfer window, and will instead do everything possible to sign him come the summer. According to his representatives, they will be ‘surprised’ if he moves in January.
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has also warned United and other clubs interested in signing Maddison during the January transfer window to stay clear of the player. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Rodgers said Maddison is not for sale, expressing hope that the player will soon sign a new deal, thereby committing his future to the Foxes for ‘years’ to come.
‘James is a very talented player and he will be here in January and beyond,’ he said.
‘He’s a player we’re keen to keep here and help us on this journey over the next few years.
‘James and his representatives are speaking with the club. These things take time but his level has not dropped. He is playing at a high level. There’s no pressure to sell and no need to sell.’
