Leicester City eye loan return for Manchester United's Harry Maguire?

Leicester City could reportedly try to re-sign Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on loan for the 2023-24 season.

The England international remains in possession of the captain's armband at Old Trafford, but his game time in the current campaign has been severely restricted.

With Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez forming Erik ten Hag's first-choice partnership in the heart of defence, Maguire has made just five starts in the 2022-23 Premier League season.

Two of those appearances from the off came in Man United's opening defeats to Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion, and Luke Shaw has also been preferred as a makeshift centre-half in recent months.

Maguire's contract at Old Trafford does not expire until the summer of 2025, but the 30-year-old - whose error-strewn performances have been met with scathing criticism this term - is expected to be on the move this summer.

© Reuters

The defender's breakthrough at Leicester earned him an £80m switch to Man United in the summer of 2019, but according to The Sun, the Foxes are now open to welcoming him back to the King Power.

Maguire and Leicester parted on extremely good terms four years ago, and under-fire head coach Brendan Rodgers would supposedly jump at the chance to work with the 30-year-old again.

The Foxes boss believes that the Man United captain would be the ideal acquisition to shore up their leaky backline, but it is unclear how any potential relegation from the Premier League could impact their pursuit.

Furthermore, Man United would expect Leicester to cover Maguire's £189,000 weekly wages in full throughout the duration of his loan spell - a financial commitment that may prove too steep for Leicester in the Championship.

Should a return to the King Power not materialise for Maguire, the report adds that Bayer Leverkusen's Odilon Kossounou would be an ideal alternative, but the Man United captain is at the top of their wishlist.

© Reuters

Maguire caught the eye of Leicester scouts while on the books at Hull City, signing for the Foxes in 2017 and making 76 appearances for the club during his two-year spell.

The centre-back scored five goals and provided three assists at the King Power, and he has since racked up seven goals and five assists in 168 outings for Man United across all competitions.

Both Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been tipped to head for the exit door at Old Trafford this summer, but Man United are thought to be open to keeping the latter at the club.

Napoli and South Korea defender Kim Min-jae has apparently emerged as a possible replacement for Maguire, with the Serie A leaders said to be willing to entertain offers for the 26-year-old at the end of the season.

However, Kim recently labelled rumours over a move to Old Trafford "nonsense" as speculation surrounding his future hots up.