Manchester United have approached Leicester City over Harry Maguire but face a serious fight to prise the England centre-half away from the King Power Stadium.

Jose Mourinho is determined to make Maguire his fourth signing of the summer after midfielder Fred, right back Diogo Dalot and goalkeeper Lee Grant and has told the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, he wants a deal completed before the close of the transfer window on August 9.

But Leicester, who travel to Old Trafford for the opening match of the new Premier League season a day after the window closes, are thought to be reluctant to sell Maguire and are still hoping to persuade the 25-year-old to sign a lucrative new contract.

The 2016 Premier League champions are loathe to lose another big player following Riyad Mahrez’s £60 million move to Manchester City just over a fortnight ago and are not under any financial pressure to sell the defender, whom they consider central to next season’s plans.

Maguire’s stock is also at an all-time high after his impressive showings for England at the World Cup finals in Russia this summer and it means United may have to offer at least £70 million to stand any chance of prising the centre-half from Leicester, an eye-watering sum for a player who cost the Midlands club £17 million from Hull City last summer.