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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects Manchester United to complete \u201cone or two\u201d deals before next week\u2019s transfer deadline after agreeing a fee with Leicester for England center-back Harry Maguire.<\/p>\nOle Gunnar Solskjaer expects Manchester United to complete \u201cone or two\u201d deals before next week\u2019s transfer deadline after agreeing a fee with Leicester for England center-back Harry Maguire.<\/p>\n
United will pay \u00a380million for the 26-year-old, with the deal subject to a medical and personal terms, though with Maguire keen to make the step up the latter should prove no obstacle.<\/p>\n
Solskjaer declined to comment on the Maguire deal during an interview ahead of the International Champions Cup game with Milan in Cardiff on Saturday.<\/p>\n
But United boss Solskjaer told PA: \u201cWe\u2019re still hope one or two deals can be done. We\u2019ve been working on cases for a long time and suddenly the deal can be done when it\u2019s dragging on.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a club we\u2019ve had targets, but as a coach and manager when you go out on the pitch you have to work with the ones you have.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t think \u2018what if he comes\u2019 or \u2018if he\u2019s sold\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is you have to work with the ones that are there. I\u2019ve never been thinking \u2018I\u2019ll play him there but he\u2019s coming in\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone who has been in pre-season has a big part to play and most of them have impressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it (transfer speculation) doesn\u2019t stop (after the deadline) because you still have to plan for the next transfer window and next summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Maguire deal represents success for both parties, with United getting a ball-playing defender who offers the ideal mix of both experience and relative youth, while Leicester\u2019s strategy of holding their ground over their valuation of the player has paid off.<\/p>\n
The Foxes will receive a world-record fee for a defender, eclipsing the \u00a375m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil Van Dijk in January 2018.<\/p>\n
United had made strengthening the center of their defense a priority at the start of the summer, with the need only becoming more acute when Eric Bailly suffered a knee injury during their pre-season tour of China which is expected to keep him out for at least four months.<\/p>\n
However, Maguire\u2019s arrival will almost certainly lead to a clear-out at Old Trafford, where there are already six defenders \u2013 Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcus Rojo and Axel Tuanzebe \u2013 in the senior squad.<\/p>\n
The deal more than doubles United\u2019s outlay this summer so far. Aaron Wan-Bissaka cost an initial \u00a345m from Crystal Palace while Daniel James signed from Swansea for \u00a318m.<\/p>\n
United arrived in the Welsh capital without Alexis Sanchez, who has remained in Manchester to build up his fitness following his belated arrival from the Copa America.<\/p>\n
Sanchez has reportedly being double training sessions at Carrington, and Solskjaer said: \u201cHe\u2019s only trained five days where the rest of the boys have had five weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a few days training to make up for the summer he\u2019s had. He needed a break after the Copa America.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe won\u2019t be too far away, but let\u2019s see what happens in the next 10 days when the league starts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Romelu Lukaku, who has not played in pre-season ahead of a possible move to Italy, Matteo Darmian and Joel Pereira are also missing from the squad in Cardiff.<\/p>\n
United are unbeaten so far in pre-season with wins over Perth Glory, Leeds, Inter Milan, Tottenham and Kristiansund.<\/p>\n
\u201cPre-season is about laying the foundations for the season,\u201d said Solskjaer. \u201cWe have done really well and won five games, but that is not the point.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to lay down your principles, how you want to play and the fitness work. We\u2019ve looked sharper and sharper and I think we\u2019re looking strong for that first weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope we\u2019ve started on something. We\u2019ve had five weeks of good work. The boys were pretty fit when they came back and the tactical work has been good as well.\u201d<\/p>\n