World Cup 2018: Leicester to offer England hero Harry Maguire bumper new deal to fend off Manchester United interest

Defender's wage packet will be bumped up to £75,000-a-week after his impressive displays for the Three Lions caught the eye

HARRY MAGUIRE is set to be offered a bumper new £75,000-a-week Leicester City deal to fend off interest from Manchester United.

The 25-year-old has become a national hero after his stunning displays at the World Cup helped England to reach the semi-finals for the first time in 28 years.

As SunSport reported earlier this week, his performances at the Foxes and in Russia have sparked interest from United as they plot a £50million swoop for the defender.

That was when it emerged that Leicester were willing to give Maguire, who joined the club 12 months ago from Hull City for £17m, a pay rise.

Now the Daily Mail claim the star is set to pocket an extra £30k-a-week if he commits his future to City.

Maguire played every minute in the top-flight last season and boss Claude Puel wants to build his side around the centre-back.

With Riyad Mahrez joining Manchester City for £60m, the club is keen to send out a strong message their top players are not for sale this summer.

Meanwhile, former Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare, the man who brought Maguire last year, has revealed how he fought off interest from Tottenham to bring him to the King Power.

He said: “Shortly after the end of the season, Harry was on a city break in Majorca with his family and I went to meet him.

“There was a lot of potential there, right back to the boy I saw at Sheffield United, but I thought Leicester was the right club for him.

“He grew on me in the meeting, with all the questions he was asking about the style of play and Leicester as a football club.

“I thought this kid could go far, so I was really pleased we could eventually seal the deal because there were other clubs chasing him.

“Harry could have gone to Spurs but chose Leicester.”

Maguire is expected to be in action this afternoon as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions look to finish their World Cup campaign on a positive.


England face Belgium at 3pm in the tournament’s third place play-off in St. Petersburg.