Man Utd line up Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly as Harry Maguire alternative while transfer for £80m Leicester defender stalls – The Sun

MANCHESTER UNITED are covering all bases while trying to sign Harry Maguire – by keeping Kalidou Koulibaly as a back-up target.

Locked in negotiations with Leicester City over English defender Maguire, the Red Devils are still yet to get the deal over the line amid rival interest from Manchester City.

Should the Foxes persist in rejecting their bids, United are prepared to look elsewhere.

Napoli star Koulibaly would be their first port of call, according to Daily Mail.

Reports earlier in the summer suggested the Serie A side rated their man at £85million.

That may turn out to be a better deal than Maguire, though, with Leicester said to be upping their demands past the £80m previously touted.

French-born Koulibaly, 28, has been Napoli's first-choice centre-back since arriving in 2014 and recently helped Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

To focus on the transfer window, United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has remained in the north-west during the club's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.

On his agenda are the signings of Maguire and Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff.

Reportedly rated at £20m by the Old Trafford side, the 21-year-old has a price tag £30m north of that amount.

Getting those deals over the line would complete a massive summer of spending and deliver Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a large squad to work with.

Such competition among the players is something defender Victor Lindelof relishes.

The Swede told Goal: "If you have good players in your position you have to work hard every day, especially in training, and that helps a team to go to the next level as well.

"For me it's perfect. I like it. I think everyone at this club wants to be at the highest level."

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