Soccer

Harry Maguire Set to Join Manchester United

by
Former Writers
July 15, 2019

Photo credit to Ly Nguyen via Flickr

Premier League

Harry Maguire Set to Join Manchester United

Manchester United has agreed a deal to sign English defender Harry Maguire for around £80 million.

According to the Daily Express, the Leicester City defender is set to have a medical on Monday.

The deal would see United pay £60 million up front with a potential add-ons of £20 million.

Initially, Leicester were looking for £70 million but with the player informing the club that he wanted to leave, the deal looks set to finally be completed.

Overall the deal would be a world record transfer fee for a defender, beating the £75 million Liverpool paid for Virgil Van Dijk.

It would also be United’s third signing of the summer after completing deals for Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Can Maguire Help United’s Leaky Defense?

Last season, Manchester United conceded an incredible 54 goals.

Also, since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge in December, United have failed to earn a clean sheet.

Defensively was a big area where United had to strengthen in the summer.

The Norwegian solved their right back problem by signing Wan-Bissaka who is a young and exciting right-back and who has the potential to have a bright future.

However, a centre-back has also been high on the priority list for Solskjaer.

Finally, it appears that he has got his man.

Maguire had a fantastic World Cup in 2018 where he helped England reach the semi-finals. He is good in the air, commanding presence and is good defensively.

Also, he fits in with Solskjaer’s philosophy of signing younger hungry home-based players.

There is no doubt he will improve United’s defence and Solskjaer will be hoping he forges a great partnership with Swedish defender Victor Lindelof.

Is Maguire worth a potential £80 million? Time will tell. However, it does appear that United have overpaid for the English defender.

The pressure will be on Maguire to repay some of that big transfer fee and help United get back into the Champions League and eventually win the Premier League title.