Manchester United cool interest in Maddison and prioritise different England midfielder

Manchester United have made Jack Grealish their number one midfield target for the summer ahead of Leicester's James Maddison, claims The Daily Mirror.

Grealish has been heavily linked with a move to United over the last few months but Maddison had always been the club's preferred option.

Maddison has enjoyed a sublime second season in the Premier League and has helped Leicester cement a top four berth.

United briefly considered a bid for Maddison in the January transfer window but quickly realised there was no chance of him leaving the Foxes midway through the season.

Despite the arrival of Sporting captain Bruno Fernandes last week, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to bolster United's midfield ranks further in the summer.

However, it has now emerged United will invest their time into signing Aston Villa captain Grealish ahead of Maddison.

With Maddison on the brink of signing a new long-term deal with Leicester, there is a growing acceptance it will be far more difficult to sign the England international than Grealish.

While it is by no means a guarantee Grealish will leave Villa at the end of the season, he is seen as a more obtainable target than Maddison.

Relegation from the Premier League will almost force Villa into selling Grealish, while they may struggle to keep hold of the 24-year-old even if they stay up.

Grealish is making a determined run to force his way into Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2020, having never previously been capped by the Three Lions.

There is even a feeling the Villa captain is playing better than Maddison at the moment and is more deserving of a point in the England squad.

Grealish has played a direct hand in three more goals (12) than Maddison (9) in the Premier League this season and also has a marginally better WhoScored rating (7.42 vs 7.41).

The Villa No.1 is particularly effective at winning fouls, illustrated by the fact Grealish has been fouled at least 28 more times than any other player in the Premier League (111).

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