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Harry Maguire looks set to finally complete his move to Manchester United after an record 80 million pounds fee was agreed with Leicester. /VCG Photo
The summer transfer window now in its final month as all the clubs aim to bolster their squads for the new season.
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Leicester City to sign center back Harry Maguire with a transfer fee of 80 million pounds (96.96 million U.S. dollars) agreed, British media reports said on Friday.
Should the deal go through, Maguire will become the most expensive defender in the world, surpassing the 75 million pounds Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk last year.
Maguire would also become the Old Trafford club's second most expensive recruit after midfielder Paul Pogba who was signed for a then world-record 89 million pounds from Juventus in 2016.
The 26-year-old England international, who signed a contract extension until 2023 with Leicester last year, played 31 times in the league last season and also scored three goals.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers had said that the 2016 league champions had rejected two bids last month for their defender because they did not meet the valuation of the club.
"The club hasn't changed its stance in terms of the valuation for the player," Rodgers told BBC on Thursday.
"I'm obviously relaxed with it. It is what it is. The player has been first class with his attitude in his training."
The Brazilian plays 24 times and scores four goals for Barcelona during the 2018-19 season. /VCG Photo
Zenit Saint Petersburg have signed Malcom from Barcelona after shelling out 40 million euros (44.4 million U.S. dollars) for the Brazilian winger, the two clubs announced on Friday.
The fee is one million euros less than Barcelona paid Bordeaux for him a year ago.
"FC Barcelona and Zenit Saint Petersburg have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira. The Russian team will pay FC Barcelona 40 million euros plus five million euros in variables," Barca said in a statement.
The La Liga champions added that they retain "an interest in case of a future sale of the Brazilian", while Zenit said that they were "delighted to welcome Malcom" to the Russian Premier League outfit.
The 22-year-old, who is yet to play for the senior Brazil side, leaves after just one season in Catalonia, during which he played 24 times in all competitions and scored four goals.
Malcom still had four years left on his contract but the arrival of Antoine Griezmann at the Camp Nou would likely have reduced his opportunities.
(With input from Reuters, AFP)