OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER will hold talks with Ed Woodward today ahead of a final push for Harry Maguire.
A deal for Leicester’s star defender is even more pressing as Eric Bailly will be out until the new year following a knee op.
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After Manchester United’s 1-0 friendly win against Kristiansund in Norway last night, boss Solskjaer said: “Bailly will miss the best part of four or five months. Hopefully we’ll get him back around Christmas. It was positive news from the surgeon that it was all repaired and he’ll be fine.”
Ivorian Bailly missed four months of last season with an injury to his other knee and suffered his latest setback in a friendly against Tottenham last week.
Now Solskjaer and United’s executive vice-chairman Woodward face a battle with Leicester, who will not budge on their £80million valuation of Maguire.
That would be a world-record fee for a defender — topping the £75m Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk.
United, who have pursued the Three Lions star throughout the summer, will almost certainly have to finally meet the Foxes’ asking price.
GO ON MY SON
Last night’s friendly in Solskjaer’s homeland was a proud one for the United chief.
Eldest son Noah, 19, came on as a substitute for his Kristiansund debut while he was assisted by Elijah, ten, in the dugout.
Ole added: “To make his debut was great and a proud moment for me as well.”
United’s unconvincing victory — sealed by Juan Mata’s last-gasp penalty after the Spaniard appeared to dive — means they have won all of their five pre- season games.
The Red Devils looked like they could do with extra firepower as they laboured to victory over Solskjaer’s home-town club in Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium, despite hitting 30 shots.
United fielded what resembled their strongest side — barring Paul Pogba, who started on the bench due to a back complaint — but they struggled to break down their hosts.
Solskjaer changed the whole team on the hour and eventually Mata won and converted an injury-time spot-kick to beat a side seventh in Norway’s top league.
United’s boss said: “We need to be more clinical. We’re looking solid at the back.
“Their keepers played well, all three of them. We’re going to keep working, improving, making the relationships and the patterns between the players.”
