Manchester United would need to pay Harry Maguire money to sign Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana this summer, believes journalist Josh Holland.

The Red Devils have been heavily linked with Ajax centre-half Jurrien Timber, but there has also been talk about them being interested in Fofana.

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What is the latest news involving Fofana?

According to French outlet RMC Sport, United and their Premier League rivals Chelsea are both interested in signing Fofana as they search for defensive reinforcements in the transfer market.

They claim that it would cost at least €80m (£68m) to sign the 21-year-old after he signed a contract extension that will keep him at the King Power Stadium until 2027.

Fofana has been a key player for Leicester since arriving from Saint-Etienne back in 2020.

He made 28 league appearances in his debut campaign for the Foxes and probably would have managed more last term had he not broken his leg in pre-season. As a result, the 6 ft 3 Frenchman went on to play just seven times in the top flight.

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What has Holland said about Fofana and United?

United paid £80m to sign Maguire from Leicester a few years ago, and Holland thinks they could be looking at even more than that if they want to bring Fofana to Old Trafford this summer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: "I think you're talking Maguire figures, maybe more. The fact that they've got him on a contract until 2027 adds another 30, 40 million because he's young, and obviously it was reported that he was going to be in the French national team if it weren't for him having a wedding."

Would Fofana be a good signing for United?

Fofana could be a quality addition to Erik ten Hag's squad and perhaps one they could desperately do with after conceding 57 goals in the Premier League last season.

In the 2020/21 campaign, Fofana won 3.3 aerial duels on average in English football's top division - no Leicester player won more (via WhoScored).

The former Saint-Etienne man also made 2.2 interceptions per game, an average only bettered by Wilfred Ndidi's 2.3.

Overall, Fofana is a very solid defender and someone Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers will not want to lose.

"He is an absolutely phenomenal talent, this young man. When you think that he had not eaten or drunk a thing because of Ramadan, he is a star in the making," Rodgers told Sky Sports when discussing the France U21 international earlier this year.

"The raw talent, the anticipation for a defender. He is going to be an absolute elite player."

£80m would obviously be a lot of money for United to pay, but it is not hard to see why Leicester would value Fofana at that figure.