According to a recent report by the Independent, Manchester United are closing in on an £80m move to secure the services of Leicester City centre-back Harry Maguire during this summer transfer period. The same source has also claimed that the recent injury to Eric Bailly has increased the Red Devils’ willingness to meet the Foxes’ valuation with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eager to get the deal done before the start of the new campaign.
Maguire’s Excellent Spell At The West Midlands
Maguire has enjoyed an impressive spell at the King Power Stadium since completing his switch from Hull City in the summer transfer window of 2017. He had another outstanding campaign for the West Midlands outfit last season when he put in a string of commanding displays at the back. His incredible defensive contributions helped the Foxes claim a ninth-place finish in the English top-flight standings.
He has fulfiled his potential at Leicester, so this summer could be the ideal chance for him to move on to a bigger club in search of more challenging adventures. Man United could be a perfect fit for him as they are in dire need of a dominant presence at the centre-half position. Maguire has all the skillset required to succeed while operating at the heart of the Red Devils backline in the coming years.
The ex-Hull City defender featured in 32 matches for Leicester in the last term, scoring three goals across all fronts. The 26-year-old was in top form defensively as he made an average of 1.0 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 4.9 clearances per game in the Premier League (Stats via whoscored). The Foxes star has also represented England in 20 international matches and was a key member of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions team during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
What Will The English Prospect Add To Solskjaer’s Team?
Maguire is a dominant presence at the back as he can command his own penalty box with authority and conviction. He wins most of his aerial duels and can keep a calm head in high-pressure situations. The England international is moderately paced, which means that he can cover a lot of ground and position himself well for a challenge.
The Leicester City centre-back has shown in the past that he can make essential interceptions for his side. Maguire is also a potent goal threat from set-pieces and can contribute by scoring the odd goal from time to time.
What makes Maguire such a highly sought after talent is his ability to play the ball out of defence. Thus, he won’t have any trouble settling into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s style of play at Old Trafford.
Even though the Red Devils will be overpaying if they meet Leicester’s £80m valuation, Maguire will be well worth the money as he could prove to be a brilliant signing for them in the long-run. After all, you don’t hear many complaints about Van Dijk’s transfer fee nowadays, right?
