According to the latest reports from the Mirror, Manchester City are willing to pull out of the race for Leicester City’s defensive ace Harry Maguire if the Foxes don’t bring their asking price down. They are demanding £90m for their prized talent, and Manchester City can shift their focus to other targets if Leicester doesn’t budge. Maguire emerged as a priority target for Pep Guardiola after they cooled off their interest in Matthijs De Ligt.
Manchester City won the domestic treble and became the first team in over a decade to defend the Premier League title. However, they had to face fierce competition from Liverpool throughout the season, and Guardiola probably knows that he cannot let his team stagnate. The club needs to keep on improving and adding players to continue their domination in English football.
Why City need defenders?
Vincent Kompany recently parted ways with the club and Guardiola will have a big void to fill in. The Belgian might not have played regularly in the past two seasons, but he was an integral part of the squad and did a decent job whenever he started.
Argentine defender Nicolas Otamendi is also being linked with a move away from the club as he wants regular game time. Therefore, the Citizens can lose two defenders here.
Why Maguire fits the bill for Guardiola?
The English defender is one of the true modern day centre backs as he is calm and composed in possession and can carry the ball out from the back. He has that physical presence as well, which can trouble the strikers. Maguire often likes to sit tight on his man, and he doesn’t give them too much space to turn and run at the defence.
All this will make him an ideal player in the Guardiola system. The former Barcelona manager was the one who introduced the concept of playing from the back in modern day football, and now almost every top team tries to follow suit. Given Maguire’s overall abilities, it is no surprise that Guardiola made the Englishman a priority.
Should City look to pay £90m?
Leicester are playing hardball here, and we don’t think that the 26-year-old is worth that much. Guardiola is right in looking at other transfer targets now if the Foxes don’t budge on their price tag. We believe the Citizens shouldn’t make an offer of more than £65-70m for Maguire. With that kind of money, they can get other top defenders as well.
