Chelsea eye shock swap deal for Man Utd captain Maguire
FT Desk
- Updated: 19 Aug 2022 22:19 BST
- 3 min read
Chelsea have been linked with a shock approach for Manchester United captain Harry Maguire.
Maguire has come under fire for his performances at Old Trafford, with many claiming that he should be stripped of the armband.
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The defender might even find himself on the bench for Monday's crunch game against Liverpool if Erik ten Hag chooses to try out a new-look duo of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane in the middle.
His recent toils, however, have apparently not discouraged the Blues.
According to the Daily Mail Chelsea have made an enquiry over Maguire's availability in the current window.
The Londoners are still looking to replace Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger in the middle of defence and want another top-level centre-back to accompany new signing Kalidou Koulibaly.
Leicester City's Wesley Fofana is a top target at Stamford Bridge but negotiations with the Foxes have proved painstaking due to their insistence on getting the best possible price for the 21-year-old.
Could Maguire move to Chelsea?
As a result, and building on United's continued interest in United States international Christian Pulisic, Chelsea are sounding out their Premier League rivals over whether Maguire could be included in a deal.
Fofana nevertheless remains the Blues' top priority and there are indications that their prolonged pursuit may yet bear fruit.
Reports claim that the youngster would be left out of Leicester's squad to take on Southampton on Saturday, suggesting that a move to Stamford Bridge may be imminent.
But if Fofana does not complete a deal before the end of the window an approach for Maguire may be regarded as the best-case scenario for all concerned, with Chelsea gaining an experienced defender, the player putting an end to his turbulent spell at Old Trafford and United saying farewell to a figure who has earned widespread criticism from their fanbase, while adding a forward of Pulisic's calibre to an attack in dire need of fresh blood.
