However, after raising Manchester United fans’ hopes that England’s World Cup hero could be on his way, the cheeky Frenchman burst their bubble.
“I can confirm Harry is going to Manchester …. but only for a couple of hours with us,” revealed the mischievous Foxes boss ahead of his team’s opening day trip to face Jose Mourinho’s United.
Puel had every right to feel on Claude nine.
Not only did he send a clear message to Mourinho that Maguire wasn’t for sale – even if United had launched a world record bid for his defender.
The Foxes boss confirmed he had signed a defender of his own as Croatian Under-21 international Filip Benkovic arrived in a £13million deal from Dinamo Zagreb.
Puel revealed Maguire showed his class off the field as well as on it and was happy to remain at the King Power, where a new bumper deal worth more than £100,000 a week will soon be on the table.
“Harry is happy to remain with us and I am happy with his attitude,” said Puel. “He and Jamie Vardy came back with a smile and with freshness when they returned to training.
“It is clear in Harry’s mind. He came back with a smile. He is a fantastic man. He showed his quality with the national team.
"It was a fantastic World Cup for him and his team. But he came back with good spirit and attitude. He is a good man and a fantastic player.
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“He understands it is important to stay with us and build some strong momentum with us for the future.
“We have spoken with Harry and he has spoken to the chairman.”
Asked if he feared an 11th hour world record breaking bid for a defender of more than £76million, Puel claimed time had simply run out for potential bidders.
"We cannot change things now just before the end of the transfer window,” he said. “It is not a serious concern.
“We need to prepare for this season now, starting tomorrow at Old Trafford.
"I told Harry I wanted him to come back to come back with strength and with ambition.
“I think with our own business in the transfer window, we have shown him we have good attributes, good players and good ambition for this season.”
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