• Harry Maguire will be playing for Manchester United in the Premier League in 2019/20 subject to completing a medical this weekend. EPA
    Harry Maguire will be playing for Manchester United in the Premier League in 2019/20 subject to completing a medical this weekend. EPA
  • Maguire has been capped 20 times by England. Reuters
    Maguire has been capped 20 times by England. Reuters
  • Maguire, left, is set to be teammates with Anthony Martial in 2019/20. Reuters
    Maguire, left, is set to be teammates with Anthony Martial in 2019/20. Reuters
  • Maguire was one of England's key figures at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. EPA
    Maguire was one of England's key figures at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. EPA
  • Harry Maguire, left, with England captain Harry Kane. Getty
    Harry Maguire, left, with England captain Harry Kane. Getty
  • Maguire celebrates scoring for Leicester City in pre-season at Cambridge United. Getty
    Maguire celebrates scoring for Leicester City in pre-season at Cambridge United. Getty
  • Maguire scored for England against Sweden in the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Russia. AP Photo
    Maguire scored for England against Sweden in the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Russia. AP Photo
  • Maguire's move to Old Trafford had long been speculated. Reuters
    Maguire's move to Old Trafford had long been speculated. Reuters
  • Maguire played 69 times for Leicester between 2017 and May 2019. Reuters
    Maguire played 69 times for Leicester between 2017 and May 2019. Reuters
  • Maguire in action for Leicester in pre-season against Stoke City. Getty
    Maguire in action for Leicester in pre-season against Stoke City. Getty
  • Maguire was a popular figure at Leicester during his two years there. Getty
    Maguire was a popular figure at Leicester during his two years there. Getty
  • Maguire will be a significant asset to United's rearguard as they look to regain a place in the top four in the Premier League. Reuters
    Maguire will be a significant asset to United's rearguard as they look to regain a place in the top four in the Premier League. Reuters
  • Maguire joined Leicester in 2017 from Hull City. AP Photo
    Maguire joined Leicester in 2017 from Hull City. AP Photo
  • Maguire scored five times in a Leicester shirt. Reuters
    Maguire scored five times in a Leicester shirt. Reuters
  • Maguire will hope to be part of England's squad for Euro 2020 in the summer of 2020. AP Photo
    Maguire will hope to be part of England's squad for Euro 2020 in the summer of 2020. AP Photo
  • Maguire had impressed on previous appearances at Old Trafford for Leicester. AP Photo
    Maguire had impressed on previous appearances at Old Trafford for Leicester. AP Photo
  • Maguire had first played in the Premier League with Leicester. AFP
    Maguire had first played in the Premier League with Leicester. AFP

Brendan Rodgers: selling Harry Maguire to Manchester United for £80m is 'incredible piece of business'


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Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has described their England centre back Harry Maguire as a "special player" they do not want to lose but conceded they have no choice after Manchester United met the Midlands club's valuation.

British media reported on Friday that United had reached an agreement with fellow Premier League team Leicester to sign the 26-year-old England international, with a transfer fee of £80 million (Dh357.2m) agreed.

Maguire is expected to agree personal terms and complete a medical at the Old Trafford club over the weekend.

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Who finishes where in Premier League 2019/20?

  • 20. Sheffield United. Chris Wilder, pictured, has achieved a great deal in getting the Blades up, but staying in the top flight could be a task too far. PA Photo
    20. Sheffield United. Chris Wilder, pictured, has achieved a great deal in getting the Blades up, but staying in the top flight could be a task too far. PA Photo
  • 19. Brighton & Hove Albion. Graham Potter, pictured, faces a tough ask after taking over as manager from Chris Hughton. Getty
    19. Brighton & Hove Albion. Graham Potter, pictured, faces a tough ask after taking over as manager from Chris Hughton. Getty
  • 18. Newcastle United. A tough set of opening home fixtures could be difficult for Steve Bruce, pictured, and his side to recover from. Getty
    18. Newcastle United. A tough set of opening home fixtures could be difficult for Steve Bruce, pictured, and his side to recover from. Getty
  • 17. Norwich City. They need to tighten up defensively but the goals of Teemu Pukki, pictured, can keep them up. Getty
    17. Norwich City. They need to tighten up defensively but the goals of Teemu Pukki, pictured, can keep them up. Getty
  • 16. Aston Villa. Jack Grealish, pictured, will have a key role to play in Villa's survival hopes. Getty
    16. Aston Villa. Jack Grealish, pictured, will have a key role to play in Villa's survival hopes. Getty
  • 15. Burnley. Sean Dyche's, pictured, team to have a steadier time of things after last season's early struggles. Reuters
    15. Burnley. Sean Dyche's, pictured, team to have a steadier time of things after last season's early struggles. Reuters
  • 14. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's side to maintain their attacking ethos though they will help Lloyd Kelly, pictured, can help shore things up at the other end. Getty
    14. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's side to maintain their attacking ethos though they will help Lloyd Kelly, pictured, can help shore things up at the other end. Getty
  • 13. Crystal Palace. Once again will be dependent on the goals of Wilfried Zaha, pictured. Reuters
    13. Crystal Palace. Once again will be dependent on the goals of Wilfried Zaha, pictured. Reuters
  • 12. Watford. Concerns over a leaky defence but the quality of Gerard Deulofeu, pictured, should leave them in mid-table. AP Photo
    12. Watford. Concerns over a leaky defence but the quality of Gerard Deulofeu, pictured, should leave them in mid-table. AP Photo
  • 11. Southampton. Stability should come the Saints way under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, pictured. PA Photo
    11. Southampton. Stability should come the Saints way under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, pictured. PA Photo
  • 10. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balancing Europa League with domestic games may prove tough. Will look to more fine form from captain Conor Coady, pictured. Getty
    10. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balancing Europa League with domestic games may prove tough. Will look to more fine form from captain Conor Coady, pictured. Getty
  • 9. West Ham United. Should be another solid season with the hope Felipe Anderson, pictured, can kick on. Getty
    9. West Ham United. Should be another solid season with the hope Felipe Anderson, pictured, can kick on. Getty
  • 8. Everton. Bringing in Moise Kean, pictured, is a coup and should help Marco Silva's side continue to progress. Getty
    8. Everton. Bringing in Moise Kean, pictured, is a coup and should help Marco Silva's side continue to progress. Getty
  • 7. Leicester City. Signing Youri Tielemans, pictured, permanently will boost Leicester's hopes of a real push at the top six. Reuters
    7. Leicester City. Signing Youri Tielemans, pictured, permanently will boost Leicester's hopes of a real push at the top six. Reuters
  • 6. Arsenal. Unai Emery will hope the record signing of Nicolas Pepe and the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, can push them closer to the top four. EPA
    6. Arsenal. Unai Emery will hope the record signing of Nicolas Pepe and the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, can push them closer to the top four. EPA
  • 5. Chelsea. New manager Frank Lampard needs big things from Christian Pulisic, pictured, if they are to excel. Reuters
    5. Chelsea. New manager Frank Lampard needs big things from Christian Pulisic, pictured, if they are to excel. Reuters
  • 4. Manchester United. Signings such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, pictured, will tighten things up and should get United back in top four. Getty
    4. Manchester United. Signings such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, pictured, will tighten things up and should get United back in top four. Getty
  • 3. Tottenham Hotspur. Third place again for Spurs, though more is needed from Dele Alli, pictured. Getty
    3. Tottenham Hotspur. Third place again for Spurs, though more is needed from Dele Alli, pictured. Getty
  • 2. Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, pictured, will be pivotal again but Jurgen Klopp's men to finish behind City again. AFP
    2. Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, pictured, will be pivotal again but Jurgen Klopp's men to finish behind City again. AFP
  • 1. Manchester City. Hard to see beyond another title success for Pep Guardiola's, pictured, side. Getty
    1. Manchester City. Hard to see beyond another title success for Pep Guardiola's, pictured, side. Getty

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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 told Sky Sports.

The deal would make Maguire the most expensive defender in the world, surpassing the 75 million Liverpool paid Southampton for Dutch international Virgil van Dijk last year.

"I think it's an incredible piece of business," Rodgers added after Leicester's 2-1 win over Atalanta in a pre-season friendly at the King Power Stadium on Friday.

"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 team mates 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 semi-finals, signed a contract extension at Leicester until 2023. He played 31 league games last term, scoring three goals.

Rodgers previously said the 2016 league champions had rejected two bids last month for Maguire because they did not meet the club's valuation but they would not stand in the defender's way once a fee was agreed.

"Football now, that's how it works, individuals will have their own goals and targets and whatever it is they want to achieve and that's something that they will always have," former Liverpool manager Rodgers added.

"We will see how it develops over the weekend and if Harry ends up going then we will have to look at our options."

The Premier League transfer window shuts on Thursday and Leicester, who finished ninth last season, begin the new campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 11.