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Manchester United are leading the way to sign Harry Maguire after Manchester City baulked at Leicester's asking price for the centre-back, according to reports. The Foxes are said to be holding out for a world-record fee for a defender amid United and City's respective interest in the England international. Maguire was among the Premier League's most accomplished centre-halves last season and, while it is thought the 26-year-old would favour a move to the Etihad, it is claimed that United are prepared to pay closer to Leicester's £80 million asking price than the Blues. Meanwhile, United continue to be linked with a move for the Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff. The 21-year-old is of the profile of player around whom Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plans to centre his United rebuild and it is claimed Longstaff remains on the Norwegian's high-up wishlist.

The negotiation committee set up by the Federal Government to negotiate the consequential adjustment arising from the  N30,000 new minimum wage has rejected what the government is offering. The committee, which was inaugurated on May 14, has also  failed to meet the four-week deadline  to submit its report. However, members  met twice last week with the enlarged membership collapsed into one technical committee of six members each from both sides. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, who was appointed as  chairman of the panel, stepped down  for the chairman of the National Wages, Salaries and Income Commission to head  the technical committee. A principal officer of a labour union, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said government’s position on the consequential adjustment had been rejected by  labour representatives in the committee. He said  labour decided to be careful in reaching an agreement based on what happened