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According to The Sun, Manchester United could involve Eric Bailly in a swap deal which sees them try to bring Harry Maguire to Old Trafford this summer.
What's the word?
Maguire has been one of the most impressive central defenders in the Premier League over the last couple of years and yet another transfer saga involving the player looks set to play out over the coming months.
The 26-year-old attracted the interest of United during the 2018 summer window but they now look as though they're going to return for the defender again this year.
The Sun claim that Ed Woodward is prepared to meet Leicester's £80m asking price for the defender but they could involve both Bailly and Marcos Rojo in a swap.
Bailly is rated at £22.5m per Transfermarkt so it would be terms which likely heighten the value of the deal even further.
Costly blunder if they don't accept
The fact United would have to pay more than what Liverpool paid to bring Virgil van Dijk to Anfield is absurd.
Leicester clearly value the player very highly and a mega asking price of £80m tells the story.
Yet, if Woodward tried to include Bailly in a swap deal for Maguire, the Foxes would be stupid to reject it.
Despite injuries, the Ivorian has easily been one of United's best defenders. That may not be saying a lot given the state of their backline, but the fact remains that he's a high-class central defender.
Maguire is also in that bracket but as far as replacements go, landing Bailly in return for their star defender would be superb business.
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The Foxes centre-back enjoyed a steady term in the Premier League throughout 2018/19 but his performances didn't live up to the displays he turned in before the World Cup.
As a result, losing him wouldn't be the end of the world, particularly if they can bring in a direct replacement as part of the deal.
Getting Rojo as well would perhaps be a little questionable, but if they have a chance of bringing arguably United's best defender to the Midlands, they must accept.
Losing Maguire after letting Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante may not be the best statement but the addition of Bailly would certainly soften the blow.