French manager unsurprised by the England hero’s World Cup performances as Foxes prime huge contract offer
Leicester City manager Claude Puel has revealed he is confident they will keep Harry Maguire, despite intense interest from Manchester United.
The Foxes centre-back had a superb World Cup with England after impressing at the King Power Stadium.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for the player, 25, with Leicester City reportedly demanding £75million for Maguire.
But now the 2015/16 Premier League title winners are set to offer him a £95,000 a week deal as they attempt to retain his services.
And Puel isn’t overly concerned about him quitting for their Premier League rivals.
“I am confident about the presence of Harry [Maguire] for this season. He is a very good player for us,” Puel told Sky Sports News.
“I was not surprised about his performance during this World Cup. We saw his progress during the second half of the season.
“He was great and played very well. It was not a surprise to see him perform well at this level in the international game.
“Of course for us he is a very good player – I wait for him with impatience because we need Harry and we need also Jamie [Vardy] because they are Leicester.
And Puel insisted selling Maguire would leave the club unable to sign a new centre-back before the deadline next week.
“If we lose a player just a few days before the beginning of the season without the ability to replace him… To change the scene before the start of the season is not possible,” the Frenchman added.
“He can continue to perform with Leicester and improve and that is the important thing always with a young player.”