Manchester United have not abandoned their pursuit of Louis Page, with fresh reports indicating that discussions between the two clubs remain active following the breakdown of a proposed deadline day switch.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the two parties had edged closer to an agreement than initially assumed, though the deal ultimately stalled over disputes concerning the structure of add-ons and the timing of payments rather than a fundamental disagreement on the transfer itself.
Leicester are understood to be holding out for a fee that surpasses the £12.5 million they secured from Manchester City for Jeremy Monga earlier in the summer, using that deal as a benchmark for Page's valuation. There had also been an expectation that, had the transfer been completed, Page would spend the upcoming season back at Leicester on loan before making a full move to Old Trafford.
The young Englishman himself is said to be enthusiastic about a switch to United, and question marks remain over how he would be integrated at his new club. It is unclear whether Page would be given a chance to break into United's first-team setup immediately or whether he would initially join one of the club's academy sides to continue his development. Currently, the youth international is receiving regular senior minutes with Leicester in League One, experience that could prove valuable regardless of where his future lies.
The ongoing negotiations over Page cap off what was otherwise a relatively subdued deadline day for United. The club had already strengthened significantly earlier in the transfer window, bringing in Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to bolster their squad. Despite widespread suggestions that United still needed to address gaps in defensive depth, the club chose not to pursue any further late incomings.
One notable development on deadline day itself came in the form of interest from Everton, who submitted a late loan proposal for Joshua Zirkzee. That approach was turned down by United, who opted to keep the forward as part of their plans for the season ahead.
Reflecting on the summer's business last week, United head coach Michael Carrick expressed satisfaction with how the squad had been reshaped. "We went into the window wanting to come out stronger from the group we had last season and we have definitely added to that," Carrick said. "Certainly, the players we have brought into the group absolutely delighted with, think we have done some really good business."
With the primary transfer window now closed, attention turns to whether United and Leicester can resolve their remaining differences over Page in the coming weeks. Deals involving structured payments and performance-related add-ons can often still be finalized outside the conventional window if both parties are willing to compromise, and the continued dialogue suggests neither club considers the move to be entirely off the table.
For Leicester, retaining or eventually cashing in on Page at their desired valuation would represent a significant financial boost, mirroring the precedent set by the Monga sale to City. For United, securing a promising young talent who is already proving himself in senior competitive football could represent shrewd business, whether he arrives immediately or via a season-long loan arrangement first.
As it stands, supporters of both clubs will need to wait for further updates on the structure of any potential agreement, with the financial specifics proving to be the main sticking point rather than any disagreement over the player's suitability or willingness to move.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.