Manchester United have been linked with Ajax ace Matthijs de Ligt but are said to think the Dutchman is Barcelona bound, though the 19-year-old also remains linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
As a result they have moved towards Leicester centre-back Maguire, who was linked with a big-money move to Old Trafford 12 months ago.
Although United’s board were unwilling to meet Leicester’s £70m valuation of the England international a year ago when Jose Mourinho wanted to sign Maguire, the Evening Standard say executive vice-chairman will back Solskjaer this summer.
The Norwegian boss – heading into his first full season in charge – completed his first signing this week by completing the capture of Swansea winger Daniel James in a deal worth an initial £18m with add-ons taking the fee up to a reported £22m.
United will now target improvements defensively with Maguire and Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka the subjects of strong interest.
And while Leicester are understood to be demanding around £90m for Maguire, it is claimed the 20-time Premier League champions are not put off from signing the commanding defender.
The London Evening Standard report Solskjaer has instructed United’s head of transfers, Woodward, to make a move for Maguire after his side ended the season having conceded 54 goals – their worst ever total in the Premier League era.
Defence is therefore a priority for Solskjaer but while United acknowledge they will have to break their transfer record for a defender – which currently sits at around £30m, having spent fees in that region on Eric Bailly and Luke Shaw since 2014.
A £90m fee would make Maguire the most expensive defender of all time, with Virgil van Dijk’s £75m move to Liverpool 18 months ago currently the record fee.
Manchester City have also been linked with Maguire but despite their riches, are not expected to rival United given Leicester’s demands.
United, however, hope to negotiate with Leicester in order to bring their fee down closer to around £80m, having never paid more than the £89m they splashed on Paul Pogba three years ago.
Solskjaer still plans to have all of his summer deals done by the start of July, with the bulk of his squad convening for a pre-season schedule that begins with a trip to Perth in Australia on July 7.
In line with that, an improved offer for Wan-Bissaka is expected to be tabled in the near future after an opening £35m bid – which rose to £40m with add-ons – was dismissed.
Red Devils legend Gary Neville has given former team-mate Solskjaer his support over Maguire, insisting that the former Hull City ace has everything in his game.
“If you think of the attributes of centre-backs, he has them in abundance,” said the former right-back, now a prominent pundit on Sky Sports.
“Leicester fans won’t thank me for this, but they’re going to be under real pressure to keep him this summer.
“We talk about John Stones being good on the ball, I actually think Maguire is the equal of him on the ball. A big statement, maybe, as Stones is seen as the composed, ball-playing centre-back, but I think Maguire is just as good on the ball.”