Manchester United ‘reject Barcelona’s attempt to sign captain Harry Maguire’

Barcelona 'wanted' to sign Maguire as part of a deal for De Jong

Manchester United have reportedly rejected Barcelona's attempt to sign their captain Harry Maguire as part of a deal for Frenkie de Jong. The Red Devils are pushing hard to secure the signature of the Dutch midfielder from the Catalan giants, with a £55m fee plus bonuses having been discussed, which could see the total amount rise to around £68m. As reported by The Sun, Barcelona attempted to sign England international Maguire as part of the deal, however, new United manager Erik ten Hag wants to keep the defender. https://twitter.com/UnitedStandMUFC/status/1541174583025451011

Maguire's underwhelming campaign

Maguire endured a difficult campaign last season and was criticised for his personal performances, with the Red Devils finishing in sixth position in the Premier League. The 29-year-old became the world's most expensive defender when he joined United from Leicester for £80million in 2019 and has gone on to make 144 appearances for the club. However, the centre-back is yet to win a trophy at Old Trafford. It is thought that Maguire is keen to remain with the Premier League giants and prove that he can be a dependable performer for Ten Hag. Despite his underwhelming form in recent months, he has retained the backing of England manager Gareth Southgate and is set to be part of the Three Lions' World Cup squad for the tournament in Qatar later this year.

Man United chasing De Jong

De Jong is thought to be United's main priority in this transfer window, with the 25-year-old having worked with Ten Hag during their time together at Ajax. The Red Devils are desperate for midfielder reinforcements with Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all leaving the club at the end of their contracts.

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• Harry Maguire one of three Man United players linked with Barcelona swap deal