Paper Round: Manchester United make contact over £100m Harry Maguire and Ante Rebic swoop

Manchester United have made their move for Leicester City defender Harry Maguire. The 25-year-old expects to be a United player before the start of the season - and when Leicester City play United on 10 August. The player is rated at £65m and Jose Mourinho wants to add a ball-playing central defender following the exit of Daley Blind.

Paper Round’s view: In truth, Maguire does not seem to be much of a ball-playing defender. His bursts into midfield are enjoyable enough, but he is not a man with deft technique. What he is, more importantly, is an unflappable defender who is capable of putting his foot in the way when crucial and winning headers, all without falling to the floor and injuring himself for months - something that can't be said for Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly.

Manchester United won’t stop at Maguire, and have also made contact with Eintracht Frankfurt for their Croatian forward Ante Rebic. The 24-year-old World Cup finalist impressed in Russia, though scored only one. His ability to play across the front three and in midfield is useful for Jose Mourinho, who wants a right-sided attacker. He may cost around £44m, having only joined Eintracht Frankfurt for £1.6m this summer.

Paper Round’s view: Rebic is another underwhelming target in some respects. He did not see especially ruthless in front of goal, and he doesn’t appear to have an especially great technique. What he did have in Russia, though, was a willingness to work hard and make the best of himself, something that Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford appear to have last in the last season.

Chelsea are looking to add to Jorginho as they rebuild their squad under new manager Maurizio Sarri. They are interested in Leon Bailey, Bayer Leverkusen’s 20-year-old Jamaican winger. His agent and father said that Roma were interested a couple of years ago and might be making their interest known again through intermediaries. Now Willian looks set to stay at Stamford Bridge following Malcom’s transfer to Barcelona, Chelsea are weighing up if they still need to bid for Bailey.

Paper Round’s view: The story is somewhat confusing, given Bailey’s father doesn’t talk of any current Roma interest, but it would make sense for the Italian club to pick up another right-winger for next season after they missed out on Malcom. Chelsea might not be selling Willian yet, or at all, but with Eden Hazard still looking likely to join Real Madrid this summer, then buying a wide player before Europe knows they have £170m to spend makes good sense.

Leon Bailey isn’t the only player that Chelsea have their eye on. They also want to buy Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who played for Serbia at the World Cup. He impressed in Russia and has been linked to both Manchester United and Real Madrid already. The 23-year-old is seen as a potential playmaking replacement for Eden Hazard, though Maurizio Sarri is outwardly confident of retaining Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Willian.

Paper Round’s view: Milinkovic-Savic didn’t seem to be a direct replacement for Hazard at the World Cup. However he did seem like a measured and dangerous attacking midfielder, whose stature allows him to impose himself on the game despite his young age. Adding the Serbian to the squad along with Jorginho, though, does suggest that Chelsea are preparing to lose some midfielders.