According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have told Leicester City that they are willing to fork out around £65 million for Harry Maguire this summer. However, they are joined by cross-town rivals Manchester City, who are also keen on securing the services of the England international.
It is believed that Leicester have set a £75 million valuation for their prized defender and won’t entertain a bid less than the said amount. It seems like United are seemingly growing keen on shoring up their defence as they are already on the verge of completing a deal for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Hence, it won’t be surprising if they consider improving their bid for Maguire this summer. But should the Red Devils actually go for it?
Where will Maguire fit in at United?
Manchester United have lacked defensive solidity throughout the past two seasons. The likes of Phil Jones and Marcus Rojo have struggled with injuries for most of their stint at Old Trafford. As for Eric Bailly, he has failed to maintain his consistency, and a move away from the club could be on the horizon for the Ivorian this summer.
As a result, Victor Lindelof has emerged as the only reliable defensive option for Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer. Chris Smalling usually partnered the Swede last season. But even he has struggled with form, at times. And Maguire, in that regard, could potentially solve United’s problems in the central defence.
The 26-year-old can be deployed alongside Lindelof at the heart of Solskjaer’s four-man backline. His excellent mentality, coupled with his leadership qualities, might provide the much-needed boost in the United defence – something they have lacked ever since the departure of Nemanja Vidic.
Maguire’s addition could make sense tactically
What makes Maguire such an appealing target for Manchester United is his robust style of play that could combine very well with the more technically gifted figure of Lindelof. The ex-Benfica defender will get much more freedom and can become more expressive in the build-up play due to the imposing presence of Maguire at the back.
While the Leicester City star will offer the physical and aerial dominance, Lindelof’s superior passing skills will allow him to facilitate the build-up play and augment his side’s distribution from the back, thus adding another dimension to Manchester United’s defensive game.
Should Manchester United make a move for Maguire?
As discussed earlier, Maguire’s addition to the club makes sense from both a sporting as well as a tactical perspective – making him an ideal target for the Red Devils. The Leicester defender has proven himself at the highest level football, notably starring for England in last year’s FIFA World Cup and at the age of 26, he could be an excellent long-term investment for Solskjaer’s team.
