Manchester United are continuing to pursue both Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire.

United boss Jose Mourinho wants a new centre-half, and Alerweireld and Maguire are his top options, whilst Barcelona’s Yerry Mina is another he is considering.

Mourinho’s first choice was Alderweireld, and he was more than happy to do a double deal with Danny Rose – and that remains an option.

Thus far Tottenham asking price for Alderweireld, and Rose, has been beyond what United were willing to pay – but sources at both ends believe that a move for Alderweireld especially, is very much ‘still on’.

Indeed, a deal or Alderweireld looks much more likely than one for Maguire. As we reported earlier this month – Leicester want to hand a new deal to Maguire, off the back of his brilliant World Cup performance.

And that stance has been backed up by Claude Puel, who has underlined the importance to the club of Maguire and England team-mate Jamie Vardy.

“I am confident about the presence of Harry for this season. He is a very good player for us. I was not surprised about his performance during this World Cup. We saw his progress during the second half of the season,” said Puel.

“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.”

Bookmakers certainly are of the opinion that Alderweireld is more likely to join United, with PaddyPower rating him at 4/9 to join United, whilst Maguire is 4/6 to stay with Leicester.