Man Utd transfer news: James Maddison is wanted with Jesse Lingard set to be offered in a swap deal (Image: GETTY)
Manchester United are determined to sign James Maddison from Leicester this month.
Manchester United are ready to offer Leicester £45million plus Jesse Lingard to complete the signing of James Maddison this month. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to strengthen his side with the Red Devils chasing Champions League qualification.
The United boss is ready to sacrifice Lingard if it means landing Maddison who he sees as key to the next stage of the rebuilding process at Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old has struggled for form this season and doesn’t have a single goal or assist in the Premier League.
That has seen Lingard fall out of England boss Gareth Southgate’s thinking ahead of Euro 2020 in the summer.
The attacking midfielder hasn’t featured for the Three Lions since the UEFA Nations League finals in Portugal.
The Mirror claim Maddison is one of the top targets for Solskjaer this month as he looks to add creativity to his United squad.
Maddison, 23, has scored nine times and provided three assists in helping Leicester to second in the Premier League.
United are ready to offer the former Norwich man a huge £150,000-a-week contract - almost triple what he currently earns at the King Power.
And if the Foxes want to keep Maddison at the club and compete with that offer they would have to completely overhaul their wage structure.
Their two top earners are currently Jamie Vardy who is on £140,000-a-week and goalkeeper Kaspar Schmeichel on £130,000-a-week.
Maddison could think twice about joining United though with the report claiming he is desperate to play Champions League football next season.
The Red Devils currently sit fifth in a fight to finish in the top four while Leicester are up in second, 14 points ahead of Solskjaer’s side.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers is said to realise the club will struggle to hold onto Maddison in the long-term though if his development continues on its current trajectory.
United also have previous for completing transfers with the Foxes, after sealing a deal for Harry Maguire last summer.
Rodgers was publicly defiant on any of his top stars leaving this month in a press conference on Friday.
“Nobody will leave here that we don't want to go,” he exclaimed.
“I think we've had a couple of enquiries in terms of loans and for some of our younger players.
“But the players that are always talked about and mentioned, there will be nobody going.”
Solskjaer also gave an update on what United are likely to do in the January transfer window on the same day.
He said: “We're still looking. And, as I've said so many times, we have our targets.
“If they become available then if it's something we want to do. If the right ones aren't there for the right money then we can’t.”
Leicester are next in action against Aston Villa on Wednesday in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash.
United take on arch-rivals Manchester City in the same competition 24 hours earlier.