According to sources, Manchester United is thinking about include Harry Maguire in their trade with Chelsea to get Mason Mount.
With Chelsea reluctantly acknowledging they must cash in on their academy graduate given that his contract expires next year, the Red Devils are stepping up their interest in the midfielder and are believed to have already agreed upon personal terms.
Even though Mount only has a year left on his contract, the Blues are seeking a sum in the neighbourhood of £70 million, which has forced United to think outside the box.
The two clubs' valuations are so far away, according to The Sun, that United would use surplus-to-requirements captain Maguire as a makeweight.
Since Erik ten Hag became manager at Old Trafford, the 30-year-old has slipped down the lineup, making only eight Premier League starts.
United is so eager to get rid of the clumsy defender that they would even be willing to pay up to £10 million in subsidies to cover his salaries.
Despite his underwhelming performance, Maguire, who cost £80 million to acquire from Leicester four years ago, is still regarded as being worth roughly £30 million by United.
This may require United to offer Mount a player-plus-cash deal for roughly £40 million up front in addition to the part-exchange defender who represents England.
Chelsea is aiming to strengthen their defence, even though they already have two left-sided center-backs in the form of Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill. It is unclear at this time whether Chelsea would be interested in such a trade.
It's interesting to note that Maguire's new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is a fan of the player and attempted to sign him when he was still playing for Hull City. However, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy blocked the move, and Maguire eventually signed with Leicester.
Maguire 'has a decision to make' about his future, according to a recent statement from Ten Hag, and the two are anticipated to speak face-to-face after the FA Cup final.
With the club eager to try and incorporate periphery players as part of their deals for targets, United might also consider offering the center-back to West Ham in exchange for Declan Rice.
Rice, the captain of the Hammers, has also been linked with a move for Scott McTominay, while Fulham target Fred, Anthony Elanga, and Brandon Williams are also up for sale.
